Sheesh ... Is She Still Talking About That Damn Novel?

Yes - I'm still talking about that damn novel.

And ... I am still over here writing away - day and night, night and day.

I am 48,600 words into Book4 and almost done with this series (4 Books).

If you add up all the words I have written, over the past five months, it would be somewhere around 273,000 words at this point. That is a lot of WORDS! Who would have thought I had so many words?

I am excited and sad to be nearing the end of this series. I have grown really attached to Laney and her friends and am sad to reach the end of her story. I have considered branching out a second series about Laney, but am undecided as of yet. I have another book (series) idea I am planning to write next and then I might go back and revisit Laney.

I am in the process of re-editing Book1 again (for the last time) and within the next couple of weeks I plan to seriously pursue looking for an agent. I have a few literary agents in mind that I would love to work with, but I am not so naive as to believe that I will actually be so lucky as to attract the interest of the agent of my dreams. I will be lucky to just get an agent to agree to read my manuscript.

I am super excited about these novels. I have thoroughly enjoyed telling Laney's story and truly think it is a YA series that girls would enjoy. I have had several people read the first three books and have had very positive feedback and lots of helpful advise.

I know that the odds of ever actually seeing these books in print is like a catrillion to one, but I am doing everything in my power to make it happen. I've read some pretty crappy books that made it to print, surely I have just as good a shot at publication as anyone else.

I'm Done!

I finished Book3 tonight - WOO HOO!

It is 275 pages, 77427 words and I like it. I think it is my favorite of the three books.

I will be starting book4 tomorrow and it WILL be the last in this series, as I can see the end of Laney's story in sight. At least this story.

I have several people reading the books right now and I will be updating occasionally the feedback I am getting on the books. So far - so good.


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I Hope Something Will Come Out Of So Much Effort

So ... I'm still over here just writing away. I am 15 chapters, approximately 35,000 words into my third novel and ...


Sometimes I seriously question what the hell I'm doing.


I am thoroughly enjoying writing this story - THOROUGHLY! But ... it takes up so much time and energy I sometimes wonder if I'm just wasting my time.


Last night I got really discouraged.


I am well into the third novel and I suddenly had doubts that the first two books were any good and started questioning why I was continuing to write this story if the first two books were not worth reading.


So ...


I pulled out the first two books (AGAIN) and read through them. I hadn't picked either of these two books up and read them for at least two weeks and it was interesting to see/read them after having let a little time lapse.


I was a little more encouraged after reading the books again (I scanned a lot of parts - I didn't actually read every single word again). I like the story and I think this story - these books - have potential.


I could definitely be wrong, though. The biggest fear I have is that I am wrong and that ... I am just wasting my time. I'm not a fan of wasting time or ... being wrong.


I haven't yet solicited any literary agents. I am still in the process of having people read the books and editing. My friend, Vicki, who lives in Utah, is going to read them once I send her the manuscripts (I plan to mail her hard-copies by this weekend). My daughters have been too busy to read the books lately due to lots of tests and projects at school. They will read them soon. One of their friends is presently reading the first book, but I haven't talked to her about it. I haven't really talked to anyone about the books, except Chloe, and that was several months ago when she'd read the first book, made some edits/suggestions and I went back and changed a lot of the second half of the first book using her ideas and suggestions. She has not reread it since I've made those changes.

I am going to keep on writing. I don't know if I'm wasting my time or not, but I have to keep positive. Monet said: "I hope something will come out of so much effort."


I do too.


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Book1, Book2 and Now ... Book3

I have now completed the second book in my YA series. I have written about 146,000 words, a total of 48 chapters and I am seriously sucked into Laney's life.

I totally need to go back and re-edit Book1 (again) and continue editing Book2, but ... I am so into this story that I have already started writing Book3 because I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

Yes - this story has me totally consumed. And, because I am the sort of writer that doesn't use an outline when writing a story, I don't have a clue what's going to happen from one line to the next.

I know - I have given little in the way of details about what this series is about. I have several reasons for that. The main reason is because the story, while a basic plot, is in a continuous process of change. And, I'm just not ready to divulge too many details. I will tell you now that ...

It is ... a teenage love story.

It is set in Marble Falls, Texas and Laney is a junior at Haywood High.

Can love for a boy ... change a girl's life? Or ... is it the love of a boy that can take a girl's world and send it spiraling out of control?

I don't know which is more compelling, but what I do know is this ... If either happens or ... if both happen simultaneously ... nothing is ever the same again.

I'd like to introduce you to a few of the characters in Laney's life.

Butter -She is one of Laney's best friends and she's my favorite (aside from Laney). She's a quirky little blonde that got the nick-name Butter because she has this impossibly hard-to-say Greek last name. She is the gossip of the group, she giggles a lot and she's adorably funny.

Tory - She is Laney's best friend (since they were in elementary school) and I really like her too. She has a funny habit of rattling off random facts and she cracks me up. She's very tall, has chestnut brown hair, light brown eyes and plays on the varisty basketball team with Butter and Laney. She is the more serious one of the group, but she has her moments of humor.

Brian - He is the especially beautiful skateboarder, drummer, artist dude in Laney's art class that Laney is seriously infatuated with. He has dark brown, shoulder length hair, gorgeous blue eyes, a dimple in one cheek, an earring in one ear and at least one tattoo that Laney is aware of.

Shane - He is the very cute and very popular varsity football player that Laney is also infatuated with. He is dark headed, blue eyed also, but an athlete and has the body and attitude to go with it.

Mr. McCarty - He is Laney's U.S. History teacher who is Mc-gorgeous, looks like Jesus and is often in Laney's daydreams.


Angie - She is Laney's adorable, red-headed, six year old sister who is a wanna-be child star and just landed a staring role in a national Dunkin' Donuts commercial.


Brad - He is Laney's older, dark headed, football-playing brother who wears boxer shorts and dark sunglasses around the house and works part-time at the local bowling alley behind the shoe rental desk. Laney does not think Brad is as cool as he thinks he is.

Dani - She is the new girl in school and is threatening everything from Laney's friendship with Tory, Tory's position on the basketball team to Laney's relationships with Brian and Shane. Dani is a sophomore with the heart and habits of a ssssssnake. She is beautiful and too confident for her own good.

Ashley & Aubrey - Twins on the basketball team.

Becca - Also on the basketball team and also Shane's younger sister.

Coach Smith - Laney's coach.

Okay ... back to writing. I truly hope that one day you will get to read Laney's story and enjoy it as much as I am enjoying writing it.

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Inspirations and Distractions

I KNOW - I'm not offering many details yet about my book. I want to, but I'm hesitant right yet, as there are still so many factors to consider before I think I'll feel comfortable divulging too much. I'll be saying a lot more, soon - I promise.

I will tell you that I have completed my FOURTH round of edits.

Sheeeeew! It's a job. The most recent finished manuscript is sitting in a really nice, neat pile on my desk waiting for my twins to re-read it. They are, at present, my editors and advisers. Once they read it through this last time, I will be forwarding it to a few others to read (and offer advise/edits) and then ... hopefully, I will be able to say, "It's finished!" I think I'm about 85% done.

I am well into the second book in the series and it's going really well. The first book was so long, I had to push some of the chapters into the second book, but it worked out really good with the plot lines.

I work every single day on these books. I'm also doing quite a bit of yard work right now, as it's SPRING in Texas and my poor yard is in need of some attention. So, I write a little and then I go outside and rake some leaves. Then, I go inside and write a little more. It's nice to have my beautiful yard as a temporary distraction.

Isn't he cute? He's my little naked garden boy that keeps me company when I'm out in the yard.

I haven't needed much motivation while writing these books as it's been so much fun and aside from all the leaves and yard work, this has been a good time of year for me to sit down and write. But ... I do have a muse that offers me constant inspiration every day when I write and this is her:

This is a painting my talented daughter, Courtney, did recently for her art class. I keep this painting over my desk.

I think the painting is beautiful, but after I'd written the first novel, I quickly realized that this beautiful girl was the main character in the book.

This is ... Laney.

And ... every single day ... I look into her eyes and I am even more inspired to write her story.

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Words Of Encourgement

I got a call yesterday from our Accountant, Donna. She'd called to verify some information so she could complete our taxes.

Donna and I aren't every-day friends, but I still consider her a friend. She is one of the sweetest people I know and I wish we were closer as I'd love to spend more time with her. We sometimes have lunch together and even though I might only speak to her 3 or 4 times a year, every time we talk it is so comfortable and pleasant.

We talked for a long while yesterday about personal things going on in our lives - mostly about our children. Then she mentioned that my husband, Billy, had mentioned to her that I was writing a book. I felt my heart sink when she said these words. You never know what someone is going to say when they hear you are writing a book. It's often what they don't say that can hurt the most.

Donna, however, was kind. After I offered minor details about my project - my endeavor, she said, "I have so much confidence in you, Kellan. I admire you for focusing on something and going after it - it's so like you. If anyone can accomplish this, you can. I just know you'll do it." Or, something along those lines.

I have to say, this compliment and encouragement touched my heart in way I didn't see coming. She is not someone I know intimately and yet we are sort of kindred spirits that really get along and just like each other. Even though I respect and admire Donna immensely, it wasn't those reasons that encouraged and lifted me up. It was that she was totally honest. She didn't have to say these things and yet she did and I appreciated this boost more than she will ever know.

This sort of support is not easy to come by. Encouragement is something that should be freely given and yet people sometimes are stingy with their words and their support. My family is often skeptical - I can see it in all of their eyes. Some, think I am wasting my time. Some just say nothing at all. Same goes for many of my friends.

Thank you, Donna. I was already moving forward, but every now and then it's nice to get a little motivational push of encouragement and you, my friend, were there when I needed you.

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It's A Fun Process

My girls, Courtney and Chloe, are avid readers. Books to them are as essential to their survival as tacos and Dr. Pepper. This - their love of books and teen stories - is where my motivation and direction stemmed from when writing my most recent novel.


The novel I am writing is Teen Fiction (ages 13-18).

I think, with enormous help from my daughters, we might have found the perfect title for this book (and also for the second, third and fourth in the sequel). I'm very excited about the titles, as I believe they are as important to the books as the characters and the plot. (I'm not disclosing the title just yet - but, hopefully very soon). I know that the title could always change, but I am one of those writers that uses the title to help drive a story. I am SUPER EXCITED about the titles!

I'm well into writing the second book. I'm writing it while I continue to edit and revise the first. My daughters are in the process of reading the first book and offering advise and edits. This has been one of the most exciting parts of writing this story - involving my daughters and ... their willingness and desire to participate and contribute. They have offered many excellent ideas and I love that they want to be involved.

I mentioned before that Courtney and Chloe are artists and plan to study art in college. They are very interested in designing the cover for my book and have already come up with 3 cover designs. I AM SO EXCITED! Their designs are really good and I have copies of these covers hanging above my desk and they motivate me everyday to push forward to finish this novel. I am seriously considering putting these three designs on my blog (and any others they might come up with) to see which you like the best.

I will eventually offer more details about the book, but not just yet. I am tediously editing and revising and until I feel the story is in its final form, I'm going to hold off a little while longer before disclosing what the story is about.

Thanks for supporting me through this process. So far, it has been an enormous amount of work, but ... I am having a BLAST!

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The New Focus For On The Flipside

I'm in the process of having my header redesigned for On The Flipside and that's because I am changing the focus of this blog.

On The Upside I write about what's real - about my family, my children and my life.

On The Flipside I will write about the process I've been through writing my most recent novel. I am also planning on publishing excerpts as time goes along.

What I will tell you right now is:

• I have completed the first draft (81,445 words, 276 pages).
• It is still untitled (but I've narrowed it down to a few I like).
• It's Teen Fiction
• It will be a series (I've already started on the second book while I'm still tediously editing and re-editing the first).

When I finish this novel (very soon) - I fully intend to find the most excellent literary agent and will then aggressively pursue getting this novel published.

I'd love if you came along for the ride.

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