Category: writing

I’m the one to be truly feared.

[Teaser Tuesday: better late than never, yes?]

MASSIVE SPOILERS BELOW! Sorry!! Second books are difficult to tease without spoilers.

“These people …” Coda’s fingers are flying over their keyboards again, likely trying to gain access to whatever tech is beyond the passageway. “They care more about your purple eyes than your rank or, like, the societal standards or whatever normally keep you relatively safe. You don’t have your entourage to protect you, Mirth. Wait for them, then we’ll all look for the boy.”

“I never actually needed anyone to protect me, Coda.” I squeeze Kitty’s hand. “I’m in disguise, you see. The pearls, the perfect smile, the sweet demeanor. The crown. Underneath, slumbering deep, deep down, I’m the one to be truly feared. And there’s only one way to wake me …”

Kitty squeezes my hand back, not the least bit scared of me.

– Mirth, Part Two – fourth draft

Are you new to the Conduit World? Content of note can be found on the individual book pages. The suggested reading order is as follows:

The revelation is overwhelming.

Teaser Tuesday: Mirth, Part 2

Mirth and I were forged from the same pocket of the universe. Everything my mother did to protect me, to care for me, steered me toward the destiny unfolding before me. My path tweaked and prodded according to my mother sight just enough for me to be standing here and now.

The revelation is overwhelming.

Mirth tugs on the bond between us. Just lightly. But it definitely snaps my attention back where it belongs right now. Had she been blocking that connection? Shutting it down along with the immense, intense power that now pours from her?

It doesn’t matter. Because now I know for certain it’s there. Now I know for certain why the burgeoning friendships with my other bond mates are so … unburdened with expectation. Now I know why other relationships were, are, difficult. Why I never really bothered to look for anything more than the most casual of connections.

Why I held Mirth in the garden at Lake Thun.

Why I gave her the peaches.

I can see all the strands of essence between us now, including the power spilling over the edge of the stage, creeping across the floor toward the nearest audience members. I’ve always had a sight for power — a genetic gift from my awry mother — but it’s never been this intense, or exact, before.

The why of that twists through my chest. As if Mirth herself is reaching within to grab hold of my heart. And lungs, because I’m not certain I’m breathing at all.

We strengthen each other, our gifts, just by being in close proximity.

The bond between us thickens, then grows taut.

“Lord Williams,” Mirth pronounces. It’s an outright claim, thrumming with power. “You’re standing on the wrong side of this all.”

Centuries of seeking the missing sections of our souls stretch between us, but only seconds have actually passed.

– Mirth, Part 2, Chapter Ten – fourth draft

Are you new to the Conduit World? Content of note can be found on the individual book pages. The suggested reading order is as follows:

How to Read a Screenplay

Post background: in case you missed it, about a month or so ago I realized I was sitting on over a decade of stories (all workshopped, edited, etc) that I will never have the time (or the inclination, really) to rewrite into novel form. I asked my readers if they’d be interested in reading some of these stories in screenplay format and they said “yes!” Hence this primer on How to Read a Screenplay!

Also if you prefer to just skip to it, my ‘first’ screenplay, Deception, is now available! 😘

***

If you haven’t read a screenplay before, the trimmed-down formatting can be a little puzzling – I use this word deliberately because screenplays are definitely presented in ‘pieces’. But once you understand how those sections all work together, the entire story will (should) unfold smoothly.

So! If you read too quickly, it’s easy to get confused about who is talking or if the location or time period has shifted. Reading slowly, as well as pausing to absorb and visualize the descriptions is helpful (Warning, descriptions, etc, are NOT repeated after the initial intro of a character or setting). Let the script unfold in your mind like a movie. Each beat is a different shot, or camera angle, edited together with the dialogue to create the full narrative. The world-building is minimal because the action and dialogue are meant to carry/convey the story.

Location/set/costume design, as well as visual effects, and score (music) are added to turn a screenplay (aka the basic story) into a movie.

Things of note

One (1) page generally equals about one (1) minute of screen time, not including huge action sequences (which are often only a few lines but can be 5-10 minutes on screen).

Screenplays are formatted as PDFs for ease of reading on a computer and printing on regular ‘letter-sized paper. I’m offering my screenplays as PDFs (not ePubs) to preserve formatting. You can read on your eReader or phone, but a larger screen might work better (?). Also, you can print the screenplay out (note the page count though, usually 100-120 pages).

Logline: aka the ‘elevator pitch’. This is a tight one-line summary of the plot. Usually focused on the ‘hook.’ Some writers will include a ‘comp’, such as Hunger Games meets Jaws with a dash of Downton Abbey. I don’t.

Three-act synopsis (aka pitch sheet/one sheet for the producer): I’ve included the pitch sheet or one sheet in the back of each of my screenplays. The one sheet is a full synopsis of all three acts. This is how I would pitch a screenplay to a producer because they want to know the entire story before committing to reading the actual screenplay. Therefore, and warning to not skip ahead, it is rife with spoilers!!

Elements of a screenplay

The first page of the screenplay, Deception, by MCD

After the title page and the synopsis page – which wouldn’t normally be added to a screenplay I was pitching to a producer, but I’m adding for ease of reading for my readers – the first thing you will come across is the:

SCENE HEADING

Also dubbed the slug line. The scene headings are written in all caps and INT or EXT for interior or exterior. This is followed by the name of the location and a designation of day or night.

Under the scene heading, you will find:

ACTION

This section describes action that can be seen or heard.  Sounds Effects that are important to the story but are heard off-screen will appear in ALL-CAPS.

CHARACTER NAMES

In the action/description character names are written in ALL caps on first appearance, as well as above their dialogue. A character who is off-screen or speaking in voiceover is designated by O.S. or V.O.

PARENTHETICALS

Often found under the character name to provide context or instruction for the dialogue delivery.

DIALOGUE

Dialogue blocks are centered on the page.  Parallel dialogue (overlapping dialogue) is written in side-by-side blocks.

FLASHBACKS

Will be noted in all caps after the scene heading.

INTERCUTS

Two separate scenes are cut together to increase tension and quicken the pacing of the story.

Note: I’m usually not a fan of flashbacks (or intercutting for that matter). And I actually now actively avoid them as a literal device, or try to be clever about how I provide that info to my readers, see Amplifier 4. But flashbacks, etc, are very much used in film to get the most story across to the viewer in the shortest amount of the time. And both flashbacks and intercuts appear in the first screenplay I’m posting, Deception (aka Abigale Awakes).

Please let me know if you have any questions!!

DECEPTION is now available for purchase. Click here for detailed background info, pitch, and purchase link.

Massive Urban Fantasy Paperback Giveaway!

3 winners  + 7 paperbacks each = 📚🤩📚😍📚 Whoot! Can a participating author enter too? Asking for a friend. 😜

Check out the photos at the bottom of the post to see all the authors participating, but in Bundle 2 specifically, you’ll find:

The Unicorn Herd – Arizona Tape (@arizonatape )

Exiled No More – T.L. Price (@tlprice_author )

A Shot For Death – C. Thomas Lafollette (@cthomaslafollette )

Borrowed Amulet – Jilleen Dolbeare (@shadowwingedseries )

Welcome to Halfing House – Victoria Vassallo (@victoriavassallo.author )

Buried Magic – T.J. Green (@tjgreenauthor )

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic – Meghan Ciana Doidge (me!!)

And thanks to Laura Greenwood (@authorlauragreenwood ) for organizing! (book: Apprentice Of The Dead)

Caveats and Rules: Three winners (7 paperbacks each!). Open internationally. No purchase is necessary to win. The winners will be contacted by the organizer Laura Greenwood. Entry via KingSumo (see link) with email address. After you enter your email, you’ll be offered steps to achieve additional entries (mostly following the authors).

End Date: 30th November 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE U.F. PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY

Preorder: Mirth, Part 1: limited edition eBook

Hello, my lovely readers!

I’ve moved up my timeline for the release of Mirth, Part 1 by two weeks, so there is going to be a flurry of activity this week, specifically, the ‘official’ cover reveal via my newsletter on Thursday, June 27 and the preorders going live all week.

Release day is July 25, 2024!

For this book release, the preorder includes a limited edition eBook that you can purchase directly through me. Yay!

I’m pricing the LE eBook at $10 CDN (so approx $7.30 USA/$6.80 EURO). The regular eBook is $5.99 (CDN/UK/USA/ETC) on all retailers. Please check out with the email you use for BookFunnel or if you haven’t used BookFunnel before please use the email you want to associate with your account. It is all automated (yay!)

PREORDER MIRTH PART 1: LIMITED EDITION eBOOK

The limited edition ebook includes:

  • An early draft of the novelette Mirth 0.5*. Approx 10-12k.
  • All art and illustrations (colour or B&W depending on your eReader display).
  • Digital signature
  • Delivered via BookFunnel (but can be transferred to your fav eReader app).
  • release date: July 25, 2024

NOTES OF INTEREST:

INTERIOR ART includes six character portraits: Mirth, Bolan, Sully, Elias, Rian, and Christoph, from Nicole Deal. An illustration of Waterfell Castle by Kateryna Vitkovska. And page breaks by Eternal Geekery.

*MIRTH 0.5 info: I’m currently writing the first draft of this prequel novelette, and I will include an early draft of it in the limited edition of Mirth, Part 1. BUT I DON’T WANT YOU TO READ IT AHEAD OF TIME. 😜 Please read Mirth 1 first, then Mirth 0.5. This novelette will be edited and published in a collection of shorter Conduit World stories sometime in 2025 or 2026. Ordering the limited edition will be the only way to get it before then.

Let me know if you have any questions! You can find the book page, and the retailer links (as soon as the preorders go live), for Mirth, Part One here. But the page is full of spoilers so please proceed with caution!!

I’M SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS BOOK WITH YOU!!

Dowser Series: 10th Anniversary T-shirt release

On reader request, I’ve uploaded the tenth-anniversary cupcake/knife design from the exclusive Kickstarter editions of Dowser 1 as T-shirts via Amazon Merch. I think (?) this is just enough time to grab one before Soulmates, Doorways, and Other Unruly Magic (Dowser 9.5) officially releases on June 13.

Caveats (as with all my other T-shirts): these T-shirts only ship to the USA or UK (see specific links below). As with my other designs/logos, I’ve offered a PNG download version for my fellow Canadians or other international readers. FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL PRINTING.

Also! Please, please check the sizing chart, and ignore the gender designations. Especially with the premium T-shirts (USA only). The fit is fantastic but very small.

I’ve ordered mine from a local printer so I have it for release day as well – and don’t have my hands on it yet – so I only have screenshots to share right now:

Here are all the links:

T-shirts, etc via Amazon Merch – ships to the USA:

T-shirts, etc via Amazon Merch – ships to the UK:

Or click here to purchase a PNG download of the GOLD CUPCAKE/KNIFE LOGO

Also … if you’re interested in a different Dowser Series T-shirt you can find them all listed under T-shirts & Other Deadly Merch (< < link) including Cake in a Cup, Attempted Murder, and more!

Some unfortunate news …

Hello, my lovely readers,

I’m sad to announce that Brittany needs to step away from being my author PA due to ongoing health issues. Please join me in sending her wishes of love and healing as she moves forward through this difficult period.

What does this mean?

I’m unfortunately canceling the Baking with MCD we had planned for tomorrow in MCD’s Adepts Discord as this was mostly Britt’s domain. The Discord will continue to be quite quiet until I have the time to devote to sorting out how it all works, specifically live events, etc. But I still plan to ‘launch’ my book club this summer and believe that the MCD’s Adepts Discord will be the best place for more in-depth discussions, etc.

I will still be doing the tenth-anniversary Kickstarter for the Oracle trilogy in October. I will just keep it a bit ‘smaller’ than the Dowser Kickstarter. And make Michael help me with the packing/shipping. 😂

I wish Britt well. I’m actively sending her healing vibes and lots of good thoughts.

Sunshine & Lollipops,

Meghan

MCD’s fav reads of early 2024 and more to come!

[Links and more info for my April 25 newsletter]

Note: affiliate links lead to Amazon stores but some of these series are available on all platforms (at least in audiobook and paperback, if not in eBook). Kindle Unlimited (KU) noted.

Three of my best reads of 2024 (so far):

Her Feral Beasts by E.P Bali. This is the first book in Her Vicious Beasts series. Start with the novella, Her Vicious Beasts (linked below), then gobble up the next two books and join me in desperately needing the third! Why Choose, Paranormal Romance. These love interests are a nasty, entitled, utterly vicious bunch. But don’t worry Aurelia is more than their match! Addictive. In KU. Start here:

USA: https://amzn.to/3wjMh05

CANADA: https://amzn.to/44iVoKY

UK: https://amzn.to/4de7zgk

Red Fang Royal by Lola Rock. This is a companion omegaverse novel set in the world of Pack Darling (so start with book 1), With so many current ‘romantasy’ novels/series dominated by enemies to lovers and ‘bully’ romances, it is delightful that these ‘alphas’ are all in – all in – just as soon as Marisol can learn to trust them again. In KU. Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/4dbs6lN

USA: https://amzn.to/3vXQl6k

UK: https://amzn.to/44iKJQB

Bride by Ali Hazelwood. A standalone (you’re welcome) paranormal romance with hints of omegaverse (but not really). Arranged marriage between mortal enemies. Misery (the FMC) has been an outcast among her own people (vampires!) for her father’s political gain. Lowe (MMC) is just trying to make his people (werewolves!) safe. Love isn’t supposed to be a factor. Enjoy!

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3UBolil

USA: https://amzn.to/4aNmGM4

UK (paperback): https://amzn.to/4aQQhUO

Three recent releases on my TBR (I just need to set time aside to read these fav authors!):

Fair Market Value by Hailey Edwards. A brand new series from my author BFF – squee!! This is the first book in The Body Shop series. In KU.

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3Ug2kEb

USA: https://amzn.to/3JAS30l

UK: https://amzn.to/3UiIJU0

Archangel’s Lineage (Guild Hunter 16) by Nalini Singh. Here’s where I admit I bounced off (and I tried twice) the previous release in the Guild Hunter universe (Archangel’s Resurrection) and never finished it, but I’m seriously looking forward to getting back to Elena and Raphael. Start with Angel’s Blood (Guild Hunter 1). Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3QgsJk4

USA: https://amzn.to/3JBUKPo

UK: https://amzn.to/3QiJprc

Trials of Conviction (Firebird 5) by T.A. White. This is the fifth book in one of my fav space opera series. Start with Rules of Redemption. Tons of action, slow burn. Found family. Intrigue.  Powerful ‘older’ main character prone to self-sacrifice. Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/4bavY4K

USA: https://amzn.to/4b71lgm

UK: https://amzn.to/49Vd4O0

Three 2024 preorders (I’m desperately waiting for)(and yes, I have more than three books currently preordered):

The Throne of Honor and Blood by J Bree. This is the second book in the Mortal Fates Series (Crown of Oaths and Curses). The Mortal Fates is J Bree’s first foray into Fantasy Romance. Enemies to lovers. The first third of book 1 is slightly slow (you know, for my level of attention deficit) but the rest of book 1 is a page-turner. Witches vs. Fae. The ending is exceptional. Series page:

USA: https://amzn.to/3QlGo9E

CANADA: https://amzn.to/3y0Rg6i

UK: https://amzn.to/4bezgDN

The House at Watch Hill (Watch Hill Trilogy) by Karen Marie Moning. This preorder is exceptionally expensive and I hope that price reduces between now and the release in October. Honestly, I bounced – hard – off the Fever Series in the opening pages of book 7 and never tried again. But! I’m looking forward to experiencing a new world from Moning’s pen. A pocket universe? An inheritance? Hidden powers? It’s seriously right up my alley.

CANADA: https://amzn.to/44eJwJY

USA: https://amzn.to/44dAmO5

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CW3BB957

Winter Lost (Mercy Thompson 14) by Patricia Briggs. An absolutely fav series by an absolutely fav author! Werewolves, plus all sorts of magical creatures. Fourteen books are intimidating (start with Moon Called) but I might have to make time for a full re-read before Winter Lost releases in June! Series page:

CANADA: https://amzn.to/44x9uZH

USA: https://amzn.to/49Th81h

UK: https://amzn.to/3WgMXhj

What are your fav reads of 2024 so far? And what books are you most anticipating?

Last chance to grab the tenth-anniversary copies of Dowser 1.

Just a quick note for anyone who missed the Kickstarter (Jan 2023), I’ve made the last remaining* tenth-anniversary editions of Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) available for purchase.

Only 12 paperbacks (some slight foil damage on all) and 13 hardcovers (8 have some minor damage to the cover) are available. Please see the listings for more info and pictures.

Click here for the Tenth Anniversary Dowser 1 Hardcover – $75+ $25 CDN/USA tracked shipping = $100.

Click here for the Tenth Anniversary Dowser 1 Paperback – $45 + $25 CDN/USA tracked shipping = $70.

Prices in Canadian funds (as always). I hope to ship the second week in March along with the annotated copies (my highlighters ran out, so I only have four of the ten of those done right now).

*I still haven’t heard from all backers so I’m holding back a few copies in case they finally contact me.

Quick writing update, thank yous, and other things of minor interest.

I usually write a ‘day after a new release’ post and then a ‘week after a release’ post, but alas I have done neither after the release of Awry (Conduit 1). And not because the release wasn’t a success – it really was! Thank you all so, so much. At one point, likely for a very brief moment, Awry was nestled lovingly between Yarros (Fourth Wing) and Mass (Crescent City, A Court of Thorns and Roses, etc) on the sci-fi/fantasy bestseller list on Apple Books.

Let me find the screenshot I shared on my socials.

So thank you, thank you for following me into a new universe and a slightly new format (present tense) and a slightly different tenor (the present tense comes with a certain natural intensity) and slightly new structure (an ongoing story where the overall plot is continued through several books).

[side note] And yes, the Conduit Series is a slooooow burn why choose urban fantasy romance. This means that Zaya will eventually have multiple partners/fated mates. There are REASONS (plot and story) for this choice. Yes, actual overall universe reasons. Some of you might have already figured it out. 😊

Since the release, I’m getting the sense that it is slightly disconcerting to some of my lovely readers that I appear to not be actively writing Conduit 2 (or Archivist 3, for that matter).

Yes, I’m currently deep into writing a why choose duology set in the same universe as the Conduit (not a slow burn! 😜), which I’m referring to as Mirth or Mirth 1 in my updates on Facebook and Instagram.

If you’ve been reading me since Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) (or even before) then you’ve been on this journey with me before – aka the expansion of a universe.

Opening up a new universe takes time. I’m sorry, it just does. Plus, the books that make up that universe aren’t wholly independent of each other.

For example, (as some of you have already picked up) Reconstructionist 1 was supposed to fall after Dowser 4. Yes, I already knew the entire story arc (at least in brief) of the Reconstructionist trilogy BEFORE writing Dowser 4 (in which, spoiler alert, Kett is already stalking Wisteria). And AT THE SAME TIME, I already knew the entire arc of the second Dower trilogy (Dowser 4, 5, and 6).

That’s a minimum of six books in my head at once. At least six. With each of them informing the other in some way, then – in that particular case – calling back (and forward) to the Oracle.

So … the universe of the Conduit and Mirth (so far) is the same. A slow build of slightly (in this case) entwined stories.

I’m almost finished writing the first Mirth book. And I know exactly what occurs in the second book (it’s two parts of an overarching story).

I also know all the major plot points of the next three (or four?) Conduit books. And this morning, I sharpened the structure of each of those books in a major way. A breakthrough, if you will.

[side note: I also know the plot of Archivist 3, including two major reveals that bookend that story. I also know the plot of the next three ebooks in the Misfit series and the plot of Jasmine’s first book].

BUT IT TAKES TIME TO WRITE A BOOK. Before my drug-resistant chronic daily migraine (of almost four and half years now), I might have been able to write four (average length) books a year. Now I just do my best.

[FYI I deleted a large section of this post because it went places I didn’t want to go].

I just really want to thank you for embarking on this new journey with me and to assure my lovely readers I’m working, slowly and steadily on all the books. And I promise to release them as quickly as I am able (though I might hold back Mirth 1 until I can make sure Mirth 2 is available very quickly after).

I’m dedicated to writing all through 2024 and taking better care of myself, which means there won’t be as many extras and freebies, and I will be less personally present on social media, etc, but hopefully, there will be more books!

As always, ‘shares’ and reviews are welcomed and appreciated.

[Final side note 😂] if you’ve been waiting to use a credit or your subscription to grab Awry in audio, it’s slowly appearing on all the retailers (not just direct from me) including Audible and Spotify, etc. I’ll update the links on the main page when I get a chance.

😘