Queries
I have to apologize for my absence from posting recently. I have sent a few queries on The Karma Stone, one about a month ago and another more recent. There was no response to the first, so if I do not hear from the other the publishing will begin.
My other issue has been a lack of time, I have been burning the mignight oil at my other job, and just completed a several month long challenge that has taken up a great deal of time. Now that I have completed it, I will be able to focus more on what I love, which is writing. It has been sadly neglected.
A am working on the cover for The Karma Stone and it will be released in both e-book and hard copy. I am looking forward to having it out in print. The subject matter is not for everyone, and deals with a bit of dark murder.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a terrible waste of time, and if I did not already have a completed work I could understand, but I am ready to move forward so should have things in place in the next few weeks. I have however been editing my newest book so I can’t beat myself up too much. Time for the plunge and dust off my pages, beautify it all and go. Will post when all is ready and move on.
A Short Exerpt from the Karma Stone
I will post once it is finished.
Using the knife, he swung at her again catching her chest, causing a splatter of blood. The sticky warmth and faint metallic smell thrilled him, increasing his adrenalin. The lust for blood fed his anger as he kept swinging the knife, now missing, then striking, and then missing again. Grabbing her hair, he was able to get a more solid hold. Taking the blade still sharpened and honed from the stone, he cut her throat. The blood spattered everywhere. In his fury he lost control as he kept hacking away, unaware of anything else. Carving and cutting, he couldn’t get enough, his hands were trembling and his heart beating so erratically it shook his frail frame. She could no longer fight, but the initial anger still fed him. Stabbing the knife into her body repeatedly, cutting off parts and moving them around he continued until exhausted. He kept going, but soon over-extended the abilities of his body. Stopping to rest, he realized she had not moved for some time.
The Karma Stone
I have finalized the edits on The Karma Stone and it is ready for publishing. Well sort of.
I acutally entered it in the ABNA contest, which just recently closed its submissions. I was stoked to get done in time, but I am now nervously biting my nails. 10,000 entries were the goal, and they hit it by midday on the day they were closing submissions, so closed early.
That is a great deal of talent to go against, but I also know that without at least trying I would not feel as though I had done my best. What I did not expect was the comradarie amongst the writers, with more seasoned writers offering sage advice, and everyone having fun on the forums. What an excellent way to network and meet new and energetic people, all working for the common goal of publishing.
February 13th, I will find out if I will move on to the next round, yet with so much to choose from I must maintain my hope. If I move on, that will move back my publishing date, but if not, than I can do a few more tweeks and prepare.
I have also consisdered shopping it around a bit, so that too could change the timeline, I am very excited about the finished produce. I am working on a cover, so hope to have something soon, to post.
I would be remiss to not thank all the authors that gave such gread advice, with nothing in return. Thank you.
If Karma is watching, you will make it through the first round. Good luck to you all, I hope to stay in touch on the forums.
Update on Writing
I will be completing editing this weekend, and the entry for the contest is Monday. I will be ready with fingers crossed. If I am bumped out early for any reason, I can then move forward on getting published myself. I am nervous and excited. This novel is dark and just a bit creepy, which makes sense, as the concept is about Jack the Ripper’s soul returning though time to conplete his carnage. I have attached the pitch, this will grace the back cover.
Once entry is completed, I will post the excerpt for your viewing entertainment. 
Feel free to leave a comment, I look forward to hearing from you.
The Karma Stone-Mystery/Thriller
Welcome to Darkness
Through the annals of time, one of the most horrific mysteries remains a question. Who was Jack the Ripper? Disappearing as quickly as he appears, he escapes accountability for the brutality and egotistical nature of his crimes. However, Karma is an integral part of life, judging all actions for their corrective purpose.
Delve into this phenomenon for a different take on history. Unable to complete his agenda, the Ripper returns time after time, wreaking his final vengeance on those who draw his ire.
Follow his evil as he moves through the ages. Shifting quickly, he eludes Karma as he continues his murderous intent. Escaping fate as he continues his gruesome deeds, he remains ahead of Karma’s Champion.
Unaware of being shadowed, he visits his brand of terror in a seemingly never-ending loop. Fate takes a stand, as the time of his dominion is past. In his maniacal manner, he has set in motion a chain of events that puts a child at risk. To sever the loop, his final stand brings his past before him in a way he cannot have anticipated.
Unable to elude the hunter he finds the answer to his Karmic balance, as the souls of his past become the justice of his future.
Amazon Break Through
As I complete my edits on The Karma Stone, I have decided I will enter the work in the contest this year. The only thing that I don’t like is that it limits my publishing for about six more months. That will give me a chance to begin the editing on Face the Music. I can also look for a new editor. I have some leads and have heard some great things about a few of them. I plan on doing some further marketing on my first book as well. I have been very busy with personal business this last year. This year is my year to get more completely into my writing carreer.
I will update you on the contest as it unfolds, I am excited to get started. I will post a few excerpts from Face the Music as well. It is quite hilarious and a mystery to boot. Stay tuned for further information as the weeks roll on.
Thank you,
Leslie Wright
Nano November
Novel writing month is upon us and I have begun a new project. Along with the new project I am close to completing edits onThe Karma Stone. But I digress.
The new project is fun and frivilous, but carries some darkness and suspense as well. Face the Music-A Connielou and Elisa too Adventure is the beginning of the Zombie Jamboree series. These fun and funky PI’s will win your heart with with their humor, their extended families will stretch your beliefs, but they will find themselves experts on the Zombie entrance and how to deliver their clients from harm.
A fun set of characters, they are loosly based off some of my own family members, but I have taken great liberty to add colorful and entertaining reading. I will keep you updated, and will send out announcements on the Karma Stone when it is releases.
Thanks as always for your support.
Moving forward
This has been a difficult year for me as well as finding the right time for writing. I have a great book that I believe will “Wow” my friends and fans, but I have yet to complete my edit. I hope you will bear with me while I digress and procrastinate, I have a terrible illness in my family and find that I am not comfortable at this juncture putting so much of my time into this that I leave out time for my loved ones. While the initial shock has worn down, each new issue continues to create stress.
I appreciate those of you who have continued to keep the faith and I do hope to have my work completed and in print by the end of the year.
Karma Stone is as different from my first work as it can be, and while it still carries paranormal tones, there is much horror and death involved. It is very much of a thriller, with a basis in the Ripper beginnings, and moving on into the realms of soul transgressions and Karma.
I will begin my return by getting back to posting on my author blog and hope to see you here periodically.
Thanks again for your thoughts, my hope is that you will find my new work to have grown and evolved. I will begin looking for an editor and hope the corrections will be more of my writing style.
In the meantime please feel free to check out my review website, I reveiw for many writers and hope I give each book a unique look. Check it out at TicToc.
Thanks,
Update on Release
The editing has been completed and both smashwords and kindle have been updated with the new content. The physiscal copy will release on Amazon within the week.
I appreciate all you patience. The other news is a short Christmas story I have written that will appear as part of an anthology. All sales will go to charity, and the book will also be available to the free ebook drop for the deployed soldiers. This book will release on Black Friday, where books are sold. More information below as well as a sneak peak of the cover.
Christmas Lites Information
The Creative Reviews group on GoodReads is filled to the brim with writers, reviewers, editors, proofreaders and crazy people. We decided to pull all our abilities to do something for others. And it was born: Christmas Lites. It’s a Short Story Anthology with the overall theme of Christmas. It will be available in e-book and print this November.
26 authors submitted a short story to be included in the anthology and the proceeds will be donated to the NCADV – National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It’s a wonderful charity that we are honored to support. We are also donating FREE e-copies to the deployed troops overseas via Operation eBook Drop.
Blurb:
Once upon a time, a rough and tumble seven year old caught Santa sliding down the chimney…
Then a ninja elf came and broke Santa out, no net is strong enough to keep out this ninja elf! Off past the faithful family pet they ran and jumped in the sleigh. They raced to another house but refused to stop when ghosts were there to greet them. Santa doesn’t tangle with ghosts. He doesn’t tangle with vampires, either.
At the next stop, he met a runaway gingerbread man who yelled, “You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” Santa didn’t bother to catch him; he had things to do.
On his way to his next delivery, he passed a werewolf jumping out of a plane and dodged a zombie hungry for his brain.
He finally touched down in a nice, normal town full of tidings and great joy…
Or did he?
Dive into a world of variety—a world of spirit with this Creative Reviews anthology. What better way to celebrate the holiday season than with some short stories that entertain and encompass the true meaning of Christmas? All proceeds of this book will be donated to the NCADV (national coalition against domestic violence). Debut authors and published authors have come together in this one-of-a-kind compilation – please help support a great cause and plunge deep into our imaginations.
*****
My own Story is more traditional and called The Christmas Star by L.A. Wright. Dive in to buy one of these books when released. All proceeds go to charity, and the stories are new and exciting. Holiday fun at it finest.
Stay tuned for more works. Several stories are foming at this time, all paranormal and exciting. Three in particular are pulling my attention, I plan to have two of them releasing in 2012. I will keep you updated.
Editing
For those of you that are wondering where I am, I have hired an editor and am doing a bit of a revamp on my book. I had hoped to have the hard copy out but after realizing that I have some redundancies and a few other flow problems, I wanted to only put out the very best prior to releasing the physical copy. I have the first four chapters finished and am waiting for my next round. If all goes well I hope to be done by the end of October. This process has been very interesting and has actually fleshed out the characters a great deal more. I have also put in a bit of foreshadowing and moved some of the back story around to where it should be.
I put up a notice when it is complete and hope you will all help me celebrate.
