This week at A’mara Books:
March has continued to drag… If you read my “shitpost” for Friday, you’ll see that it’s been a bit of a doozy when it comes to craziness this month! I still didn’t have much time for writing this week between stuff happening and someone’s birthday party and things like that. I finally got some time yesterday to do some fun writing. Including that, I managed:
Over 3000 new words!
This all went on a story which is unscheduled at this time. It plays on the opposite side to Neví 4 where I’m writing now. It’s more of a “dark romance” or “soft erotica” - which I don’t know if I’ll ever publish… we’ll see. But sometimes I, personally, have a need for it, so I write it when I need it, and read it when I need it…
It wasn’t all bad though.
Read-aloud Proofread
That’s currently happening on Name of the Neví. I’m about halfway through this edit, though I don’t expect I’ll be able to hit it again until Tuesday now.
My read-aloud proofreads have become the most essential step in my editing process. I have found that by engaging your voice, you get past a lot of the auto-correct functions of your brain. Obviously, it’s still not perfect… if it’s a section I’ve read 100 times, the autopilot can still engage and I miss it. (As I regularly find when posting on the platforms – and the no. 1 reason I read it again when posting!)
DAZzling new cover coming right up!
I’ve also spent quite a bit of time on DAZ 3D studio this week trying to complete the scene I need for my new book cover. Although not the only couple to receive focus in Name of the Neví, Jerreck and Jilia are prime. Most of their scenes aren’t particularly photogenic, but they came back on the ship together, so that’s the scene I’ve built.
I had to work hard to overcome some of the DAZ learning curve that I hadn’t really mastered before. Previously, I’d “got close” enough to let it go… But I really needed to get further this time, so I asked a few questions on a Facebook group of mine and got the help I needed.
Basically, I needed to realize that the lighting and camera parts of it are as different as they are in real life. I had to first create the lighting I wanted. Secondly, I had to figure out how to capture it “on film”…
Here is the result, including my afterwork on GIMP (and even a little balancing work on Photoscape.) There are four layers involved just on this image – and I’m not done yet! A few more elements need to be blended in before I can declare this image completed. I have been covering my creative process in a tutorial. (part 1, part 2, part 3 ) Take a look if you get a chance!
The moons were fun - somewhat difficult, actually. The red moon is poised to nearly eclipse the blue moon in only a few days after this picture.
Coming this week
- 6 more chapters of Spice of Strength on Whaleshares (Please visit if you missed this book the first time around!)
- 6 more chapters of Sands of Survival on Steemit.
- Try (again) to finish the first draft of Neví 4.
- Finish the cover image for Name of the Neví – it won’t be long before I need it now!
- Maybe start working on the cover and maps for Head of the Neví
- Try (again) to name Neví 4
Reviews?
If you have liked any of my books, please take the time to leave me a review/rating at Goodreads
Anyway, that’s what’s been going on here at A’mara Books this week! I hope you manage to take a few minutes to immerse yourself in my world of Terrenden – which I’m so delighted to share with you!
Crossposted on Steem, Whaleshares and WeKu.
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Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series. |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, the Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Head of the Neví... |
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
also on: Whaleshares, WeKu
Join us in the Official Whaleshares server in the text channel "the-phoenix-project"