Bake a cupcake and win five paperbacks

CONTEST CLOSED! Winner: CORI from NEW YORK, USA. Lucky #4

I still have a few of those misprinted paperbacks hanging around in a box in my office. It’s a handy box, because it raises my laptop up when I’m working from the treadmill desk, but it isn’t very pretty. I should replace it with something in the nearish future, so the books need to go! Plus it feels like a long time since I’ve hosted a giveaway.

This is the final full set of misprints. The books are slightly streaked with pink lines. The files/printings have all been corrected, so once these are gone there won’t be any more. I’d be happy to sign them, personalized or not.

Do you want to win all FIVE of these paperbacks?

Yes?

Then, to enter:

1. Bake some cupcakes inspired by one of the cupcake creations in the Dowser books. You can use one of my recipes or your own – from scratch or a mix, your choice.

2. Take a picture of your cupcake(s) and post that picture in the comments as a .jpg (if possible).

Unfortunately, there isn’t mechanism that allows you to post a picture directly in the comments, but you can link a .jpg. The comment thread should embed it automatically — direct links to the .jpg are best for this. If this isn’t possible for you then you can link to a post on Instagram/Flickr/Facebook/Twitter/etc. This will just show up as the link, not the picture though.

3. Tell me about your cupcake. Which Dowser cupcake inspired yours – Lust in a Cup, Sunshine in a Cup, Buzz in a Cup, etc?

This is not a baking or beauty contest. Even with how much I bake I cannot manage bake/frost a ‘pretty’ cupcake.

FUN! FUN!

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. Each cupcake/picture will be assigned an entry number. The winning entry will then be selected via random number generator. One entry per person. Please make sure to fill out a valid email address in the comment form. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than notifying the contest winner.

If you haven’t commented on the blog before, or you comment from a different IP address, the comments are moderated. So don’t worry if you don’t see your entry right away. I will approve it, then assign it an entry number.

Contest closes SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 at 8 p.m. PDT.

NEW TO THE DOWSER SERIES BUT YOU STILL WANT TO PLAY ALONG? Dowser 1 is currently perma-free on all retailers.

Oracle 2: A playlist

I put together playlists for each book/story I write, then usually listen to it obsessively while I’m brainstorming and outlining, or even when I feel I need a kick start while writing.

My musical taste is rather eclectic and I don’t like to influence a reader’s impression of a novel, so I don’t often share my playlists. But in the past few weeks I’ve received a few requests to share more of my writing process or things about writing in general.

Music is huge motivator for me. I put on earphones, blast the playlist and think … visualize a scene, or a moment, over and over … Rochelle watching Beau as he fixes a car … a vision taking her sight … the terror of seeing the future unfold and not understanding what she sees … not understanding the magic, but always moving forward, always fighting for the tiny breath of paradise she’s found.

Here is a shot of my current desktop.

Now … headphones on … back to work!

On iTunes:

Photograph by Ed Sheeran

Wild Ones (feat Sia) by Flo Rida

Here’s to the Zeros by Marianas Trench

Am I wrong by Nico & Vinz (Beau’s anthem)

Collide by Howie Day

Some Nights by Fun.

The bone structure of a novel … for me.

I woke up feeling slightly rudderless this morning. This happens pretty reliably when I’m not deep in a story, when I’m just scratching around the edges of an idea but I haven’t found the hook into the plot. If I entertain it, this feeling can easily lead to fretting over the time it takes me to bring a novel to market, and then being daunted by the sheer amount of words between me and a completed first draft.

So I usually beat it back by blaring music through headphones – a specific playlist for each novel – and digging into character bios and building settings.

Fast forward six hours later, and I’ve written twelve hundred words of the final confrontation and know exactly were the novel is going … as well as the twists that get the characters there.

I love that.

This cracks Oracle 2 wide open for me. I’ll play around with the guts for a couple more days, sorting through scenes, turning points, and putting everything in its place. Then I get to dig deep into the first draft, inciting incident to the denouement.

I thought you might find it interesting to see what a story looks like to me in this stage, so I snapped a picture of my paradigm before I filled out too many spoilers. Please ignore the spelling errors.

This paradigm – or skeleton – of the plot is heavily influenced by Syd Field‘s structure of a screenplay, which I used to follow rather religiously when I wrote the first draft of a screenplay and saw no reason to drop when I transitioned to novels. I add my own bits, most likely cribbed from other sources, such as Save the Cat! and the like, but really it’s just an amalgamation of how story functions for me.

This will be a novel in approx. 70K more words.

One word, sentence, and paragraph at a time.

A breath, a look, and a sigh.

A kiss, a touch, and a smile.

The brave, family, and blood. Always blood and tears. Courage and fear.

Destiny.

Rochelle and Beau, beyond the skeleton of an idea and the smear of a pen.

Rochelle and Beau, beyond luck.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

I See Me: Author-Read-Along: Chapters Fourteen and Fifteen

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*

CHAPTER FOURTEEN – important beats:

BELIEVING (and colour). “I believed everything laid out before me in black and white. No color anywhere on the page. No color to confuse or beguile my senses. No color to soften the message, or soothe the pain.”
CHOICES (right or wrong, choices must be made). “I was never handing over something precious to another person for safe keeping. No matter how trustworthy they seemed, or should be. Never, ever again.”
FATE/DESTINY. “I reminded myself that I didn’t believe in fate.” and “Causality, fate, and destiny were just too much to think about, ever.”
Blackwell texting – LOL

Favourite Quotes

Beau had found me in that diner. He bought me a piece of apple pie and rescued me from the living hell of my broken brain. I’d believed I was broken. For Beau, I’d act like I was whole. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 14

CHAPTER FIFTEEN – important beats:

Rochelle and Blackwell make a deal. Though – other than his obsession with Jade – it’s not completely clear what Blackwell is hoping Rochelle will see, what future he is hoping to thwart? Perhaps simply any future he doesn’t like the look of.
Too many realizations to sort through … “I didn’t have an unknown psychotic disorder.”
Questions about magic? If it’s real, then what? “Was magic energy? The energy I felt when I touched Beau, Jade, and Blackwell? Energy from where? And why me? What purpose did the visions have?”

Favourite Quotes

” … it’s a treat to be so near something of Jade’s creation without being stabbed by it.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Fifteen.

I See Me (Oracle 1) read-a-long

Chapter One
Chapter Two & Three
Chapter Four & Five
Chapter Six & Seven
Chapter Eight & Nine
Chapter Ten & Eleven
Chapter Twelve & Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen & Fifteen (above)
Chapter Sixteen

What were your thoughts, comments, and/or questions on Chapter Fourteen and Fifteen?

I See Me: Author-Read-Along: Chapters Sixteen

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*

Last but certainly not least when it comes to the plot of Oracle 1. Here are my thoughts on the final chapter. Feel free to ask any questions or share any thoughts about I See Me (Oracle 1) here. Anyone reading this far shouldn’t accidentally happen upon any spoilers.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN – important beats:

CHI WEN, the far seer!!!
Rochelle’s parents get names!
“An oracle by birth.” Important wording here. 😀
“As you will see mine.” – this practically innocuous observation of Chi Wen’s is a HUGE hint to how he sees Rochelle’s role (specifically within the Dowser Series). But you’re going to have to wait for Dowser 5 and 6 to really know what he’s talking about 😛
Fate/Destiny/Luck – Chi Wen weighs in on the possibility of changing the future. “Magic moves where it will, not where we wish it.” This is an important hook into Oracle 2.
Rochelle seeing herself in the rearview mirror – “I didn’t recognize myself.”
Beau, Rochelle, and the Brave. Both have made ‘deals’ to save/protect the other.

Favourite Quotes

And wait, dragons were real now? Like fire-breathing, treasure-hording dragons with wings and scales and wickedly long claws? – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 16

Beau lifted my left hand and pressed a kiss to the black butterfly on my inner wrist. “I’ll follow your luck anywhere. Then I’ll fight and survive at your side if it runs out.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 16

“Me and you, beyond luck.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 16

I See Me (Oracle 1) read-a-long

Chapter Twelve & Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen & Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen (above)

What were your thoughts, comments, and/or questions on Chapter Sixteen?

I See Me: Author-Read-Along: Chapters Twelve and Thirteen

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*

CHAPTER TWELVE – important beats:

Beau’s abandonment issues: “Don’t leave me,” he whispered fiercely. The idea was utterly preposterous. I laughed.”
The Dowser!! And Kandy 🙂
Getting to hear how the cupcakes taste from Rochelle’s POV. Love, love, loved it.
The alchemist fixes Rochelle’s necklace.
TENSION between Desmond and Jade.
All hell breaks loose. 😀

Favourite Quotes

I had a split second to mourn Beau. I was terribly sure that if I ever gained consciousness again, it would be without him. And what good would waking up be if I had to wake up without Beau? – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 12

“It’s broken,”I said. “It’s broken like I’m broken.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 12

CHAPTER THIRTEEN – important beats:

Rumble in the house!
First hallucination with the drugs out of her system and her mother’s necklace attuned to her magic.
More B/G of how the Pack functions – “sharing magic,” etc

Favourite Quotes

“If we can’t have Paris,” Desmond said. “At least we’ll always have Blackwell.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Thirteen.

I was within the vision. I breathed in the white light. I consumed it. It was me. It had always been me. This was me. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Thirteen.

My hallucinations up to this point certainly hadn’t been filled with fluffy bunnies. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Thirteen

She flinched. All that power, all that electric magic I could feel rolling off her, and I made her flinch. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Thirteen

“I don’t believe in fate or destiny.” Jade laughed. It wasn’t a happy sound. “It believes in you.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Thirteen

Then, propelled by a force I couldn’t deny any longer – that I couldn’t hope to control – I sat on the bed to draw. Right now, that was all I could do. But later, I was going to thwart destiny. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Thirteen

I See Me (Oracle 1) read-a-long

Chapter Twelve & Thirteen (above)

What were your thoughts, comments, and/or questions on Chapter Twelve and Thirteen?

I See Me: Author-Read-Along: Chapters Ten and Eleven

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*

CHAPTER TEN – important beats:

Going to the Pack for save haven … and “ignoring the most important thing [Beau’s mother] ever taught” him.
Lara!! From a different POV (not Jade’s). “I’ll gladly dance naked on his bloody, well-gnawed bones.”

Favourite Quotes

Don’t play nice, Rochelle. I want you, not the fake you who’s just pretending.” “What if the fake me is all I have now?” “Look deeper.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 10

Beau reached around me to grab my seat belt, but I slapped his hand away. “I’m crazy, not a moron” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 10

“Yeah, I knew how to deal with predators. Don’t be prey.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 10

CHAPTER ELEVEN – important beats:

Audrey! Learning to be a good beta, and failing at it.
Desmond! Everyone who thinks the Alpha is ‘handsome’ needs to reread Rochelle’s reaction/description of him. Also some intriguing displays of the Alpha power/magic that hasn’t been explored much in the Dowser Series.
Texting with Kandy – I love this scene.
Are cupcakes a possibility? LOL
Rochelle’s bravery is so compelling and even heart wrenching through these few chapters. She is totally lost, and yet willing to do anything for Beau. Even defending him against the Pack.

Favourite Quotes

“What magic to you wield, witch?” Desmond asked me. I raised my chin. “I’m not a witch.” “What are you then?” I thought about this for a second, then answered, “Crazy. Though psychotic might be a better word choice.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Eleven.

“Rochelle doesn’t eat meat,” Beau blurted, as if he was confessing some terrible sin. The three other shapeshifters turned to stare at me, completely aghast. Like I was condemning their religion or something. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Eleven.

I See Me (Oracle 1) read-a-long

Chapter Ten & Eleven (above)

Chapter Twelve & Thirteen

What were your thoughts, comments, and/or questions on Chapter Ten and Eleven?

I See Me: Author-Read-Along: Chapters Eight and Nine

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*

CHAPTER EIGHT – important beats:

The bike – Beau gifting Rochelle with freedom
BLACKWELL!!! “A dark-haired, dark-suited man walked through the entrance with not a drop of rain on him.”
And what does Blackwell want?
Heartbreak … if Beau can see and ‘interact’ with Blackwell, then Beau is just an elaborate hallucination. Which Rochelle allows herself to believe because why else would someone like him be with her? If not for the fact that he wasn’t real?

Favourite Quotes

Jesus, my mind was wicked. Brilliant but wicked. To have conjured someone so complex, as compelling and terrifying as him … Blackwell. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Eight

But … the hot apple juice was a lie. A lie of love whispered in my ear by my evil, broken brain. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 8

CHAPTER NINE – important beats:

Beau, Beau, Beau – beautiful Beau knows when he is over his head, when he perhaps hasn’t handled a situation properly and he’s not afraid to go for help/back-up.

More BG on Beau here. Hints of a nasty childhood … is it better to be an orphan like Rochelle or have parents like Beau? I pick neither 🙁

Rochelle thinks everything … the necklace, the Brave, and even Beau are all part of some massive hallucination. One she is unwilling to wake up from now that she ‘conjured’ Beau.

Favourite Quotes

“And you love me.” Beau was crying now as well, shaking with it. “You love me, without question. Like no one has ever loved me. Not because of how I look, or what you think you can get me to do for you. And you think it’s a lie. You think it’s a lie.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Nine.

“It can’t be true,” I whispered. “That would be even crazier than I already am.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter Nine.

I See Me (Oracle 1) read-a-long

Chapter Eight & Nine (above)

Chapter Ten & Eleven

What were your thoughts, comments, and/or questions on Chapter Eight and Nine?

I See Me: Author-Read-Along: Chapters Six and Seven

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*

CHAPTER SIX – important beats:

APPLE JUICE!
Eyes changing colour (magic).
Some hints to Beau’s not-so-great BG
Rochelle’s art from Beau’s POV. He sees the magic, but doesn’t know how to talk to Rochelle about it.

Favourite Quotes

He’d had the bakery heat up apple juice for me. I shouldn’t read too much into the action. There was no way he could possibly know what apple meant to me, just because I ordered apple pie last night. But still, my throat constricted, and when I tried to hold the emotion at bay, it flooded with a wave of heat through my face and neck. I gasped when the tightness moved to my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Oh, God. I think this was … happiness. Extreme, insane happiness. This didn’t happen in real life.

“It’s okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” I choked out. I looked up from the hot apple juice in my hand to lock my gaze to his. His face was blurry through my unshed tears.

“Don’t kick me out,” he said.

“I won’t.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 6

CHAPTER SEVEN – important beats:

Pocket of bliss (including the references to the function of the Brave in Chapter Six “a microcosm of our own design.”) and Rochelle’s disbelief in “true love” or “fate,” which is VERY important later.
Hoyt is back. Silver reflection – Rochelle getting some hints here about magic (etc) that she promptly tries to reason away.
Beau stays.

Favourite Quotes

I was broken in a way that couldn’t be repaired. I could only endure. I really, really hoped that Beau staying meant he’d endure with me. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 7

I See Me (Oracle 1) read-a-long

Chapter One

Chapter Two & Three

Chapter Four & Five

Chapter Six & Seven (above)

Chapter Eight & Nine

What were your thoughts, comments, and/or questions on Chapter Six and Seven?

I See Me: Author-Read-Along: Chapters Four and Five

*SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS* *SPOILERS*

CHAPTER FOUR – thoughts/notes/quotes:

A debilitating hallucination triggers thoughts of her every first one. So we catch a rare glimpse into Rochelle’s background in foster care (etc) in this chapter. Rochelle isn’t one to dwell hence the rare notation above.
Hints into Blackwell’s background – who did he steal the amulet from? Hint: note all the golden/gold decor.

Favourite Quotes

It had been many years since I’d asked why. Since I’d questioned why and what I hallucinated. But tonight, in my drugged sleep, I hoped. I wished. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 4

I managed to sit at the table in the dinette area, only to realize I was brushing my hands across my cheeks and through my hair as if attempting to sweep away the clinging hazy bits of the hallucination. Just like a crazy person … like the crazy person I was … No. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 4

I was crazy – pure and simple – according to the professionals. Well, they didn’t put it quite like that, but that’s what I heard and that’s what I lived with. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 4

No one was going to yank me out of the RV, label me, and then shove pills down my throat. Happy nineteenth birthday to me. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 4

CHAPTER FIVE – thoughts/notes/quotes:

BEAU!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the scene that started it all. The reason this book and characters exist. This scene haunted me. There are way too many things to quote in this chapter. I’ll have to narrow down to my favs below.

Notes

Insta-love complaints: One of the biggest ‘complaints’ I get about I See Me is a perceived “insta-love” element. Obviously this works for me – otherwise I wouldn’t have written it – but it doesn’t work for everyone. I’ve already had my say on this subject – I wrote the book – but I firmly believe that the reaction that occurs between R&B – whether a reader perceives that to be simply a chemical reaction or ‘love at first sight’ – is setup and supported by their backgrounds. They come from nowhere and are heading nowhere, until they meet each other. I firmly believe that you can form a bond with a stranger within a matter of minutes, just based on your shared histories/beliefs/desire/fears.

But then, I believe in true love. I’ve felt it and I’m living it. 😀 I’m damn lucky.

Sex-too-early complaints: Again, I think I’ve covered my thoughts on this above. But I will say that Beau’s background and motivations will be exceedingly important to the plot of Oracle 2.

Favourite Quotes (TO MANY!!!)

I felt a terribly weird impulse to pull my sleeves down over my hands and dry the rain from his face – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 5

“Are you crazy?” I resisted the urge to tug the sleeves of my hoodie down over my arms for a completely different reason now. “Because I have enough crazy already going on in my head. I don’t need yours.” – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 5

No need to explain that I was cold. Cold in a way that made it seem I’d never be warm. Cold in my core, and afraid if I stayed alone, I’d sleep. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 5

Then he reached across the table and – barely touching me – turned my left hand over until the back rested on the table. With a touch so light that I felt only the shiver of its passing, he brushed his fingers across the black butterfly I had tattooed on the inside of my wrist. – I See Me, Oracle 1, Chapter 5

I See Me (Oracle 1) read-a-long

Chapter One

Chapter Two & Three

Chapters Four & Five (above)

Chapters Six & Seven

What were your thoughts, comments, and/or questions on Chapter Four and Five?