It’s the last day of February. The temperature reads 10 degrees outside. The sun is warming my tissue-covered living room and I am in a hellish world of hold with the IRS, trying to find out why my refund is late. I’m getting over a cold which came on pretty swiftly earlier this week. Meanwhile, the cat is racing around the room like a deranged squirrel, nearly knocking things over. This is not the hygge life (#hyggelife) that I was hoping for when I wrote my first blog post for 2019.
I know. Oh, believe me, I know.
It’s been months since the last update. I was thinking (hoping) I’d be on a more regular schedule following my move but it’s been harder than ever to stick to one. I’ve barely had time to write (a sentence I hope I never have to utter again) during these last several weeks. The house has required a butt-load of attention. I’ve been doing lots of painting, yard work, and decorating to make it feel more homey. It’s coming along. It won’t be done this year. It probably won’t be done next year. But at this point, I have a few rooms completed or nearly completed.
I have finally done it. I’ve bought a house, moved in, and am now going through the arduous challenge of turning it into a comfortable, safe, and familiar place to live. For those of you who have moved before, you know what kind of a task this is. For those of you who don’t…let’s just say that it’s a process and can be a stressful one at that.
Don’t get me wrong; I love my new home. There are post and beam ceilings, beautiful wooden floors, a nice deck, a three story barn, and many other lovely things. There are also lots of spiders, things to be cleaned, a lawn to be mowed, and many other things in need of attention. This has kept me going non-stop for the last few weeks. Which means I haven’t had much time for writing…or blog posts unfortunately.
I’m unbelievably sad that I haven’t been able to keep up on posts for the first half of the year. I hope when I’m a little more rested and perhaps summer isn’t in full swing that I’ll be able to really spend some time posting. I also haven’t written anything in a couple weeks and that is one of the things that makes me feel antsy.
Writing is not just a job; it’s a passion and it’s a calming influence. When I can’t write, I get upset, which is reasonable. I’m currently in the editing process of “The Collection”, painstakingly going over it time and again with advice from my writing group on what to alter. I had hoped it would be finished by the New England Authors Expo at the end of July, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. If anything, I’m going to shoot for a late August release date. At 60 pages, it’s a rather short read, but it’s one that I have put my all into, probably one of my favorite pieces that I’ve written. I want so badly to share it with everyone! And I can’t wait to start working on the follow up series for it… Oh yes. There are plans there.
New England Authors Expo: I was getting to that. July 27th, I’m going to be at a table at the Expo in the Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers, MA once more selling my wares. I’m going to have a few other things available besides books (bookmarks, perhaps t-shirts…?), so definitely stop by and check things out! The event goes from 4-9.
I realize that I’ve been saying over and over how I want to get back to writing posts and I haven’t been able to and I apologize for that. I want more than anything to be able to get back to a routine with Inspiration Through Music and Cooking Adventure posts. We’ll start seeing them hopefully return in regularity in August after the book show.
Until then, I could use some positive vibes exiling the creepy arachnids from my home.
Thanks in advance!
~KSilva
For some reason, 2016 is really kicking my butt. This is the third time I’ve been sick so far this year. I haven’t been reckless with my eating or drinking, I haven’t been running around outside without a jacket, and I haven’t been spending time among hordes of sickly children. I don’t even like to spend time among hordes of non-sick children. I have, however, been stressed about things; the blog is one of them.
Last year, I took a year off from publishing anything and decided to focus on the Monstrum Chronicles blog more. I posted Literary Cooking Adventures, videos which took anywhere from four to five hours to film, edit, and post; Inspiration Through Music; and Horror-FAIL Fridays… They were fun and I had lots of time to work on them because I wasn’t dedicating myself to trying to finish any lengthy WIP’s. In 2012, my first year doing the blog, I kept up the blog posts AND wrote and released a new book.
This year, it’s been different. I can’t find the same energy I had four years ago to be able to multi-task and do all of those things at once. It, of course, doesn’t help that I’ve been sick and worried about things, one of which is finding a house. But, most of all, it’s that I’ve been finding it hard to find time to write. When I do manage to carve out a minute or two, I realize that it’s also the same day that I was supposed to have written a blog post. Or I get a migraine. Or I’m on the brink of sneezing my entire face off and am exhausted. And usually, I won’t write anything.
Yes, I realize this is a bit of a whiny post and for that, I apologize. I wanted to fill readers in on why there haven’t been many posts this year and to assure you that, once I’ve settled things with the house, am feeling healthy and energized once more, and feel confident that I can keep up with weekly blog posts, I will resume doing so. For now though, I ask that you be patient with me, that you allow me the time I need to get my ducks in a row (what kind of an OCD dingleberry puts ducks in a row anyway?) and stay tuned. I hope I’m able to at least post something once in a while, but I know it won’t be weekly and there might not be any rhyme or reason to it.
Thank you and I hope you are all having a good 2016 so far.
~KSilva
That’s right. We’re looking at you…
HAPPY NEW YEAR (a bit late) and welcome to the Monstrum Chronicles blog! Here’s hoping you all had a fun and festive holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year. 2016 promises to be an exciting year! I’m looking forward to making a few changes in my writing career as well as here at the blog and in my personal life as well.
First off, I would honestly like to be able to attend a few more shows this year in lieu of the fact that they are the best way to get my books into reader’s hands. 2nd, I’d like to focus on trying to market my books to a few more brick and mortar businesses here in Maine. I’ve been a salesperson for several years and yet it’s always so much harder when you are trying to sell something you’ve created yourself. This fear has made it difficult for me to take those steps forward. Not this year though. I’m going to give it my all here.
Read on to find out what 2016 has in store for the Monstrum Chronicles blog!
That feeling you get after you’ve been in bed with a terrible headache ALL WEEKEND…and now, it’s your day to go back to work and you SUDDENLY feel better?
That’s been my weekend, folks.
I managed to get the most demonic headache, a combination of sinus, stress, and muscle all rolled up in a ball and tossed at my head. The sinus part was caused by a Calamondin tree that I have in my apartment (or should I say “had”). The Calamondin is a strange mini fruit tree that has a tiny orange fruit that tastes much like a lime. For some reason, despite it being November, this tree has been rapidly blooming and growing more little oranges. Our weather here in Maine has been warmer than it should be and for some reason, this tree is just absolutely loving it. Problem is that the pollen from these little flowers is super potent and my entire apartment smells like them. One day of sitting here breathing it in made my head feel like I was in Willy Wonka’s tunnel of craziness. The tree is now at my parent’s house after my mom gratefully came and picked it up.
So folks, there is a situation that limits me from doing my Cooking Adventure’s blog… which is a Greek tragedy. My car has yet again developed a problem and is in the shop… probably for the weekend. This means, I’m not going to be able to go to the grocery store to get the ingredients to make that amazing meatloaf that was supposed to be this week. Perhaps if someone wonderful gives me a ride to the grocery store Saturday night or Sunday, then I can do it this weekend. But not before then. Sorry.
As far as Inspiration Through Music goes, I apologize for that not being up sooner. I’ll hope to have that up by tomorrow Saturday evening.
Thanks for understanding!
~KSilva
EDIT: As of today, I’ve found out that the transmission in my car is gone. I will now have to find a new car this coming week. I apologize for any delays in getting posts up. Hopefully, this car crisis will end in me finding something that is dependable, but also something that I’ll want to drive. (I’m hoping for a used Mini Cooper… but I’m open to other options.)
Good morning, readers!
Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I have been doing some major updates to my website and now they are available for you to see! I was looking at my website earlier this week and shaking my head. There wasn’t enough information on it, it was kind of boring, and I personally wasn’t happy with it. So, I spent about 5 hours this week fixing things.
There are a few new pages to check out including an Events page, a News Page, and Upcoming Projects. People can now also find links to Cooking Adventures and Inspiration Through Music there. And one of my trailers shows up right on the main page for people to watch.
As we get closer to the release of “Aequitas”, I’ll change things with the page. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have details of a photo contest that extends through the month of July. I’ll also write a post here for those interested!
Now, what was I saying? Oh yeah. Go to the website, check it out, let me know what you think. http://www.voxthebook.com
Stay tuned for a post about the photo contest tomorrow and Inspiration Through Music on Monday!
~KSilva
Apologies!
I’m a wicked, wicked woman. I didn’t post my Inspiration Through Music blog yesterday. And frankly, it wouldn’t have been possible. I was away until about one o’clock (and nowhere near a computer) and then I was out of the house again until ten o’clock last night. It was Memorial Day and I had other plans. And because of my work schedule, it’s more difficult for me to get things done.
Have no fear. I’ll be posting my Inspiration Through Music blog tonight.
In addition to tackling that, I’m going to be embarking on an epic writing quest this week which will hopefully see me finish a few long-standing projects. The last couple weeks I’ve been working so hard, I just haven’t had time to write. I’m going to make up for that by trying to finish (or at least getting close to finishing) certain writing projects. Two short stories (both within the Monstrum Chronicles universe, one that is absolutely paramount to the story in book 2), two novellas (Night Time, Dotted Line and a new romance one I started the other day), and getting at least half way through Memento Mori: Book 3 of the Monstrum Chronicles. It’s an ambitious goal to say the least but honestly, it’s not okay that I haven’t written anything in the last two weeks. I’ve got to get myself back on a set schedule. And sometimes, giving myself a crazy goal is a good way to jump-start that.
I’ll still be posting my Cooking Adventures blog on Thursday and I’ll still have a new Inspiration Through Music blog for you all this next Monday. I won’t let those goals get in the way of the blog. Don’t worry. 🙂
Well, I’d best get started! Stay tuned for the Inspiration Through Music: Norah Jones this evening!
~KSilva
Good morning!
As you may have noticed, the page has undergone some revisions! I’ve changed the header picture to something else that I felt was spooky as well as altered the background color so that it matched. I’d love some feedback! I admit that I do miss the way it used to look but I felt an update was needed.
Revisions have begun on ‘Aequitas.’ This stage is merely a read through, making slight changes here and there as I see fit. I’m also making lists of significant plot holes that I find. For anyone who has read the first book, you are probably aware that there is allot going on in it. There are several characters names to keep track of and there are several plot threads going on behind the main one. Hopefully some of the unanswered questions from ‘Vox’ will be answered in ‘Aequitas.’ However, because this series is comprised of five books, it will probably take some time to answer the major ones. Book 3, which I’m focusing on right now, will definitely help to enlighten several things that happened in Seraphim City with Torrent.
Book 3, tentatively titled, ‘Memento Mori’, is a prequel to ‘Vox’ and ‘Aequitas.’ It takes place in Seraphim City several months before ‘Vox’ begins. There is a whole new set of main characters as well as a few that you will recognize. And of course, we mustn’t forget Torrent. He plays a key role in Book 3. At present, I have about a hundred pages written on an old draft of ‘Memento Mori.’ However, some of the characters don’t sit right with me and there are a few cliche scenes which need to be cut. I wrote most of this stuff three or four years ago. It will definitely need to be re-vamped… pun intended.
I’ve also started to write a couple of scenes for Book 4, currently untitled. I’ve had some inspiration the last few days listening to ‘A Stranger’ by A Perfect Circle. The song is so eerie (as is most of their music) and it fit the idea I had for the scene perfectly.
I also wanted to get some of those scenes down because there is a vast difference between Memento Mori and the rest of the books in the series. They are all supernatural horror novels but Memento Mori lends itself to more of the urban horror and noir genres. Because it kind of breaks up the series a little, I didn’t want to lose my momentum on book 4 by waiting. I’m sure it all sounds confusing, but it makes things easier for me.
In addition to the revisions on ‘Aequitas’, I’ve been writing a short story which provides background info on one of the main characters from the book; sort of an ‘origins’ type of thing. It takes place in Nazi-occupied France during WWII. It shouldn’t be too much longer until that is finished. Not sure if I want to publish it separately from ‘Aequitas’ or if I should include it in a collection of other short stories. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Last but certainly not least, I have my first reading coming up this weekend at Slainte Wine Bar and Lounge in Portland, ME. I’m nervous. I’m slightly relieved by the fact that there will be alcohol available and that it may take some of the jitters out of me. However, public speaking has never been my forte. I’m hoping that I don’t stumble over my words! Here is the link for the Facebook event. If you are in the area and have no plans Monday night, please come and have a listen. I’ll be joined by five other fantastic Maine writers. Readings start at 6:30 pm!
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174452965975546
Well, there is much work to get done so I’d better snap to it!
Until next time, good morning and happy writing!
~KSilva
The Kat At Night 