NaNoWriMo

I’m sure you’ve all heard of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, or Month of the Crazy. I’ve given it a shot the past two years and haven’t been able to finish either time. Now, I did finish and publish those novels, just not in a month.


My problem: I have the patience of woman in labor on her way to the hospital. As in, none. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I don’t know why I’m like that, but I am. I’m not the writer that I could be because I always submit my second draft. That’s right. My I-just-went-back-over-it-for-spelling-and-such draft. So when I write I feel like it’s the end all, beat all. But it’s not. Rule number one for NaNo is to give yourself permission to write a really crappy first draft. So I’m going to do that. I’m not going to edit the last chapter before I start on the new chapter; I’m just going to write. To be successful at this I will need to make a really good outline. I usually do a loose chapter by chapter outline but this is going to be firm, detailed, and orderly so I can just write. 50K in a month. DONE!

I will be writing the sequel to True North. I didn’t know if there was going to be one or not but it seems folks like it so…what the heck right? I’m doing a North, East, South, West thing which means this will be East. I have no idea what I’m going to call it yet, other than True North #2. lol Suggestions welcome.

One last note. I received a promotion at work and am now a Jr. Proposal Writer. I’m still teetering between my old job training the new person, and my new job, but I hope to just be doing my new job by the first of next year. So in essence…I’M GETTING PAID TO WRITE! =) *Happy Dance* Now, it’s not very creative. “Clear and Concise.” That’s what they keep telling me but I can’t help throw in some Christy Flair every now and then. I hope everyone has purchased their copy of True North, but if you haven’t, here’s the link for Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/True-North-ebook/dp/B005TTLQ14/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Also, I’ll be doing a Monthly guest blog on my publisher’s site which you can see here:
http://extasybooks.net/essenceofextasy/

I’ll be gracing the monitor of a computer near you every 25th. I do expect to see you there.

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The Unraveling of a Yellow Shirt

I have this favorite shirt that I wear all the time. It’s yellow (my favorite color), fits me perfectly (just lost some weight so yay), and has pretty detail on the front. The problem is, the pretty detail has begun to unravel. I haven’t snagged it on anything so the culprit can only be the washing machine. And while I admittedly wear it more than perhaps intended, they knew it was going to be washed when they made it, so why didn’t they make it stronger, more durable?

Yesterday while sitting at my desk wondering how I would make it through every day without my Christopher, I began to question God in the same manner. Why didn’t he make my heart more durable? Isn’t this what it was made for? To love? To express kindness and allow people to become close to you? So why I ask you does it come unraveled so easily? Admittedly I may use mine more than his average creation but still, he knew. He knew and he should have made my heart stronger, me stronger.

But he didn’t. So I feel unraveled and hope someone has a needle and thread. I’ll be needing it.

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And the winner is...

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Happy Release Day To Me

**Extended! Some folks were having trouble posting from their phones and such, so I'm extending this through Monday 10/3! And let's make it a $20.00 Amazon gift card, shall we!***

Hi! You’re here! Oh my gosh, I’m so excited you came by!! Today is the release of my fourth novel, True North. It’s about a small town in Colorado where everyone is a shape shifter…except Sahar. It’s a story about standing out rather than fitting in, fighting for what you believe in, and of course, a hot boy with blue eyes. Yeah, I have issues. I know.

In honor of this most excellent occasion, I have decided to give away a free copy of True North and an Amazon gift card. To enter, just leave a comment below and let me know you’re interested.

Again, thanks for stopping by and good luck!

True North - http://www.extasybooks.com/true-north/

Add True North to your ‘To Read’ list on Goodreads!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12591648-true-north

Oh and here’s a little excerpt from True North to wet your whistle.

“I’m always around, Dawn. Whether you know it or not. We are one in the same, you and I.”

“What if I don’t want you around?” I asked.

“Then you’re going to die. Plain and simple.” He held up his hand and my necklace dangled, swaying this way and that in the breeze. How did he get that?

“Give it back,” I demanded. “It’s mine. You gave it to me.”

He began to hum that same damn song and placed the necklace in his pocket. When he turned his back to me, I could see the horrible gash that traveled the length of his spine. Blood dripped down his legs, staining the snow around him. I could smell it, it was…heavenly. My mouth began to water and I was down on my knees, stuffing the hot snow in my mouth. He began to laugh and then I began to scream.

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Baby Kitties and Pricker Bushes

While driving home in a panic yesterday, I saw two baby kitties on the side of the road. I was in a hurry because I had to get home and fax a New York hotel a credit card authorization form for a friend at work. Once that was completed (and trust me she should feel really special that I put that over the kitties), I went back to try and get them. There are three; two black and one gray, and they are as big as my hand. I was so close to getting them it was just heartbreaking. My husband took me back up there when the rain slacked a bit, but no luck. So of course, they’re all I can think about.

I’m telling y’all right now, if I ran this country, anyone who hurt kids, animals, or old people would be killed on the spot. If two grown-ass men are fighting and someone gets stabbed or shot, whatever. Shit happens. Let’s have a trial and all that. The person guilty of that crime isn’t necessarily a bad person, they just got in a bad spot. ANYONE who hurts a child, animals, or old people CANNOT be rehabilitated. PERIOD. They prey on weak victims because they are sick in the head and need to dominate something. I would be like, ‘You did what? Booocahoowhhh!’ (That was me kicking them in the head and then shooting them.)
~
After two afternoons of crawling around in the pricker bushes, Cameron getting attacked by fire ants, and Myron ripping his tie, I have come to the conclusion that the baby kitty doesn’t like me. This is a very hard fact for me to accept because ALL CATS LIKE ME. I am sad.

Well TRUE NORTH comes out on Saturday. At least I’ve got that going for me. Below are pics of the kitties that still love me.

Gary the Cat


Dilly


Fenway

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True North Release and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

On October 1st, True North will be available to purchase. In honor of this occasion I will be giving away a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card and a FREE eCopy of True North. Though the Maldito Series will always hold a special place in my heart, I am very excited to begin something new. Is this a series? Well, it wasn’t supposed to be. The story itself is singular, told from start to finish, beginning-middle-end all in one book. The characters, however, don’t seem to be accepting that. So we shall see where this small Colorado town takes me. Wherever it is, I hope you come along for the ride!

True North Release and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway
Date: October 01, 2011
Venue: www.christytrujillo.blogspot.com
Description:
Join me on October 1st for the release of my new novel, True North! I’ll be giving away a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card and a FREE copy of True North. What does it take to enter? Check my blog: www.christytrujillo.blogspot.com on October 1st to find out! Hope to see you there!

Trying to make it out of high school alive – Difficult.
Being the only human in a town of Shape Shifters – Challenging.
Figuring out where you really belong (with the help of the hottest guy you’ve ever laid eyes on) - Priceless.

True North
10/1/11

*Add True North to your ‘To Read’ list!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12591648-true-north

See who else going and get more info:
http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/130356?i=LTM2MDQ0NTI5MDM6MzY4&si=true&utm_medium=email&utm_source=event_invite

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WriteOnCon

I’ve spent the past few days trying to sneak WriteOnCon into my daily life. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m not all that great with the secrets and lies so pretty much everyone I work with knew what I was doing over here in my corner of the world. I work with a group of technical writers, so I suppose they get it.

I learned a lot. Like, a lot, lot. It’s always nice to mingle with other folks going through the same things you are and remind yourself, hey…maybe this is worth it. This beating your head against a brick wall because you could have sworn you saw a crack and you just know that sucker’s going down any moment now. Okay, maybe it’s not that extreme, though I do feel that way sometimes. I know this for certain: I have never wanted anything more in my entire life. I’ve never had career aspirations, I’ve never been one to try and climb the corporate ladder. You have to write your goals at work and I’m always like, um.. yeah, don’t gouge my eyes out with a pen. That’s my day –to-day goal. LoL I want to be a writer. No, scratch that. I am a writer; I don’t give a shit what you people say. I AM a writer. I want to have a career being an Author. I want to get paid to stay home and immerse myself in this world in my head, and attended classes and conferences. I want to go to charity events and raise money for animal shelters, I want someone to stop me on the street and say, “Hey, didn’t you write that book XYZ?” And the thing about it is, I know I could help people, well, at least teenage girls. I KNOW I CAN. If they could hear me, hear my story, I know it would help someone. One day. I mean it folks, one day I will have this life. But I digress…

WriteOnCon was a great experience! My favorite video was about not giving up. You can watch that here:



I also managed to get a request for 50 pages and a synopsis by the amazingly wonderful Christina Hogrebe (see it was meant to be, we even have the same name!) so that was awesome. Who knows if anything will come of it but she said, and I quote:

“#51. I hope you’ll introduce conflict that will take this fish out of water setup to the next level, but the writing is beautiful. The nostalgic tone promises something heartbreaking. Send me 50 pgs and synop by email.”

Don’t even front like that’s not awesome, cuz you know it is!

I’m going through massive revisions on FireFlys and I am still in edits for True North (out 10/1/11). I love it. Now, if the rest of my life could just catch up. Maybe I’ll be like Ms. Harry Potter and get that deal just in the nick of time – you know, like soon. ;)

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