The Lemorian Crest Upcoming Festivities

Hello My Friends!

So it's been a while since I've blogged.  Been a busy last few months with all the book release and baby prep going on around here.  But I wanted to give you a little update on Book 2 and let you know where we are in the whole release date process.

1) As we speak, The Lemorian Crest is with my final editor who is doing a final proof-read run through on it--you can never be too careful with grammar, people.

2) The entire cover (front and back) is nearly finished and SO beautiful.  You will all get your first glimpse of it during my cover reveal on July 17th, so stay tuned here and on social media.

3) We've also got a spectacular new trailer in the works, which you'll be able to view August 24-28. 

And 4) all of that will be wrapped up with a blog tour from August 24-28.  

So what does all of this mean?  It means, my friends, that in August we will have a beautiful and exciting new installment to the Cobbogoth Series for you all to read.

And you guys! *GASP!* I honestly can't tell you how happy I am with this book.  It has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life to write from beginning to end--yes, even through those grueling editing sessions--and I'm so proud of it.  (And yes again!  It has been a million times more fun to write than Uncovering Cobbogoth was.) Noria's journey and the new friends she meets along the way have evolved into so much more than I could've hoped for, and funnily enough, have seen me through some pretty rough patches in my own life.  Consequentially, they are very special to me, which is why I'm so pumped for you all to meet them!

That being said, I still have a lot of check points to meet before The Lemorian Crest is released for your reading pleasure.  In the meantime, you are more than welcome to visit our goodreads page and add The Lemorian Crest to your "to read" list. If you aren't following already, you can "Like" our Facebook page for easy updates, and pretty soon my husband or myself will be back to posting daily quotes and pics on Cobbogoth's Instagram account.  So, lots of stuff to look forward to.

All I ask is that you stay with me peeps. We are almost there, promise! :-)

Great Reads: "Seraphina" by Rachel Hartman

This book was recommended via Goodreads by a  friend of mine who has impeccable taste in books. I'd been eyeing Seraphina for a while even before she recommended it, but just never got around to picking it up.  Well, since this friend's book taste and mine seem to almost always line up, I decided to try it after reading her review.

 Here's the blurb from Amazon:

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life. 
 
 I think this is the best YA book I've read in a long time. I liked all of the characters a lot, though sometimes they became a little confusing.  Seraphina was tough but vulnerable, and her plight was sympathetic and relatable to so many situations kids face in our world.  The dragon culture and the Goredd culture as well as the clash between them was fascinating to me.  I also loved the concept of Seraphina's mind garden, and how she had to tend it every night before going to bed.  On top of all of that, there was a very sweet love story that I felt developed naturally over the course of the book--no insta-love happening here.  And Hartman's writing?  It had several breathtaking moments, both imagery-wise and emotionally.  Truly beautiful.

As to things I didn't like? The characters in the book were a little hard to keep straight sometimes, especially during palace scenes. And it took nearly till the end of the book before I learned that Seraphina had dark hair and Kiggs had brown eyes--which is all you really ever learn about their physical features, except that they are both though to be attractive. (Not really a big deal, but I found it a little frustrating not to get a good picture of any of the characters.) I suppose the plot moved a little slow in the beginning, but with all the world building that was happening, I really didn't mind.  It gave me time to digest it and the chance to set it down and pick it back up again. And I suppose it took a little longer for Hartman's plot clues to begin working together for her, but I believe her subtly is one of her strengths--except when it comes to characters' physical features. ;-)

Anyway, I know I'm really into a book when I dream about it after reading it, and last night, my dreams were full of dragons and demi-dragons. :-)  So 5 stars goes to Seraphina!  Can't wait to read the sequel Shadow Scale coming out on March 10th!  I've already ordered my copy.

Happy reading!

Baby Steps

I was recently having a conversation with one of my sisters.  We're both moms of young kids, but we've been talking about starting up a serious study of the classics together.  She mentioned how discouraged she gets when she tries to start reading a book, but can only get a page or two finished before her attention is called away to attend to more pressing matters.  I completely understand where she's coming from, having been there myself.  But I also shared something with her that got me through and continues to get me through those frustrating times.

When I was about five years into writing Cobbogoth, I still hadn't published, nor was I ready to.  There were so many times I wondered if I was making any progress at all.  I was only taking baby steps at first--the first five years of my son's life my diligent attempts to accomplish my goal to become an author were minuscule, to say the least.  But having been a goal oriented person my whole life, I knew that if I didn't at least do something, I'd regret it.  So I kept at it, as frustrating as it seemed sometimes.

When I reached that five year mark, however, I was surprised that I wasn't more discouraged, even though I hadn't reached my goal yet.  That was because it was the first time I was able to look back and actually see how far I'd come since starting.  I'd written at least seven working drafts of Cobbogoth, each one falling short of the story I wanted to tell, but teaching me such important writing lessons that eventually led me to finally writing the draft that became what Uncovering Cobbogoth is today--something that I'm very proud of.

Last year I applied this same life lesson to another goal I'd had for a long time.  I started teaching myself to play the guitar in March and by August I was writing my own music.  All I did was make sure I played at least a little bit each day.

Today, almost to the day, it's been nine years since I seriously started creating the world of Cobbogoth.  Since self-publishing in 2011, and then getting picked up by Cedar Fort last year, I've learned SO MUCH!!!  I know myself better as a writer, as an individual, and as a mother.  I'm more confident in my ability to listen to and trust my instincts as a storyteller.  I'm much better at weeding through criticism to find the stuff that will truly make my story better, and have no qualms tossing all of the rest. I'm halfway through the final edit of my second book, and half way through the first draft of another. I also have two more books outlined, and half a dozen other story ideas waiting for me to get to them.  AND, I've had some incredible experiences and met some amazing people, all of which, I would've never encountered had I not become an author.

Sitting here and looking back over the last nine years, I can't tell you how grateful I am that I started where I was, and never gave up.  Especially during the times where my circumstances only allowed me to take baby steps--which was almost always--because, regardless of their size, each step was moving me closer to my goal.

We all have goals, and we all have busy lives, and it's so easy to let those busy lives stop us from accomplishing our goals.  We tell ourselves that as soon as [insert crazy event happening in your life right now] is over, then I'll start working on that thing I've wanted to do or become since I was ten.  I say, why put off till tomorrow, what you can start taking baby steps toward today.  It doesn't have to be a lot, just do something every day.  One day all of those baby steps are going to add up to the sum of something truly amazing--something that will never happen if you never start.

Back to Work

Hey all,

So now that the queasiness and exhaustion has passed, I'm back to work on Book 2.  Just thought you'd like to know.  ;-) So far it's coming along nicely.  Mine and Bekah's goal is to have The Lemorian Crest published before this baby comes in July.  This is vital, because all mothers know that the only things you get done with a brand new baby are 1) keeping said baby alive and 2) sleep.  And, of course, #2 always takes a decided backseat to #1.

That's all I really have for right now.  I'll be sure to keep you updated, especially as we get closer to releasing Book 2.  So excited to finally get to share it with you all!

Excellent News and My Album's Title Song

Hey All,

So it's been a while, and last time I posted, I believe I promised you some news.  Well, I can do even better than that for you!  I will tell you the news I've been keeping and share the title song for my indie-folk album with you.

First off, the news!  So, I'm pretty sure most of my readers don't know this--I don't think I've ever shared it on here before--but I'm a mom to a truly fantastic kid.  He's been an only child for nine years.  My husband and I didn't do that on purpose.  We LOVE kids.  Well, back in November, my husband and I found out that we are very unexpectedly expecting our second child.  After nine years and a few false alarms, it turns out my son isn't going to be an only child anymore.

To say that our family is excited about this news is a severe understatement.  Because of the things we've gone through over the last decade, I honestly believed I'd never get to have another biological baby.  Consequently, I've been spending the last 6+ weeks taking it VERY easy so that we can keep this baby.

And . . . (drum roll) . . . so far so good!  We're 14 weeks along and still prego! Huzzzzzzah!!!!!

Because of this very unexpected but extremely welcome development in my life, I have had to cut out all excess stress, and therefore, I won't be attending any school visits/signing/anything extra that could get my nervous system too worked up.  This is on doctor's/husband's orders.  But, don't fret Cobbogoth fans, I'm still writing--as if I could stop--and my sister and I are still shooting to have Book 2 The Lemorian Crest out sometime this summer.  Preferably before this little tyke is born.

With that said, here is another song I've written for my indie-folk album.  It will be the title song for my album and is called Like Home to Me.  This song is the first song I wrote when I started writing songs with the guitar last August.  I wrote it as a gift for my husband's birthday.  It's rough and will sound much better once we get the other bells and whistles involved for the recording, but hopefully you get enough of the gist of the song to let me know what you think.

Alright folks!  So that's it for now.  I'll keep you updated on both the album and Book 2.  It's going to be a fantastic year!!!

"A Winter's Lullaby"

Hey Retro Readers,

I wrote another song for the indie album I told you about.  This one is more Christmasy in honor of the "most wonderful time of the year!"   I'd love to hear what you all think of it.  Last time you guys were great!  Although I think the main thing you gave me was encouragement, which I have to tell you is invaluable during a creative endeavor like this, so thank you!

A little backstory: this song was inspired by "Song for a Winter's Evening" (The Sarah McLachlan version) and the Robert Frost poem "Passing through the Woods on a Winter's Evening." So it's kind of like a wintery love song/sensory experience.  I want the tone to be tender and full of wintery beauty, with a kind of a homesickness ache.  With that in mind, I'd love to get your feedback.  Did you feel any of those things while you were listening?

Regardless, I hope you enjoy it! And thanks for taking this fun journey with me.  ;-)

 
Lots of Love and Christmas wishes,

The Swoony Awards!

Hello all!

I know I have been MIA again, but there are exciting things afoot at the Clark house these days, and it has required all of my focus the past two months.  Don't worry, I won't be so vague about whats going on around here come January.

That being said, Cedar Fort has alerted me to some exiting news!  Uncovering Cobbogoth has been nominated for a "Swoony Award!"  Voting is open right now, and if you liked my book, you can go vote for it here. Really, I'd be super honored and so very grateful if you took a few minutes out of your crazy December and voted for us.  Right now you can find me at #63. That's up from #196 since yesterday, so Thank you so much to those of you who have already voted!  It would make my Christmas if something wonderful came from all of this.

Anyway, other than that, if I don't make it back here before Christmas, I hope your holidays are very merry and bright!

Love,