Resolutions Revisited and Renewed

Photo Credit: McCorkle Creations

I like making resolutions, especially on my blog where I can hold myself accountable. It's hard, knowing the evidence will be right there, so I work all the harder to bring them to fruition. With that in mind, here is a look back at last year's resolutions, along with honest answers as to how I did.

2014: #1 Focus on fitness.
Results: I bombed this one. *Sigh* The weight I gained was not muscle.
New Resolution: Work out harder, more often. Planned weekly regiment with activity on the weekend as well!

2014: #2 Write every day.
Results: I ROCKED this one. Three novels written last year. Whoo!
New Resolution: Write three more this year. Get them to my agents, sell them, hopefully this year as well.

2014: #3 Pursue traditional publishing.
Results: So far, so good. See # 5.
New Resolution: Get my manuscripts that are written highly polished along with the help of my agents, and sell them to great houses!

2014: #4 Chat with my friends more often.
Results: Good. I balanced social media with writing time better than I ever have before.
New Resolution: Keep it up. Meet and interact with more amazing new people.

2014: #5 Attend a great conference.
Results: Boy did I! RT in New Orleans was career changing for me. My novel won second place in their Author Idol contest and landed me two fabulous agents, something I never dreamed of having!
New Resolution: No cons for me this year. This year is all about writing, editing, and getting those polished manuscripts back to my agents so they can sell them.

New Non-Writing Resolution: Design more covers for indie authors this year though my design business, McCorkle Creations. Last year was a great year for me. I had the opportunity to design covers for some authors that I truly admire such as Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, Angela Brown, Alessandra Macaluso, Fida Islaih, and many more. I love designing and helping authors bring their dreams to life!

Another Manuscript Down!

Photo Credit: Turner Home Entertainment

Survive Holidays: CHECK
Finish Editing New Manuscript: CHECK
Send New MS to Agents: CHECK

It has been a productive year for me so far! This last week I finished the 'final' (nothing is ever final until it is in print, of course) edit of my latest manuscript, and I just sent it off to my agents. That means it's time to do a little happy dance, relax the brain, and try not to start writing another book until next year. This latest one is a historical romance about a nurse serving the all-Irish 69th infantry during the civil war. To see the images that inspired me while writing it you can check out my Pinterest board on it.

How about you? How was your holiday, and what last minute things are you squeezing in before the end of the year?

Happy Holidays

Wishing you a safe, and very merry holiday! May you be surrounded by those you hold dear, and who hold you dear, and of course may there be plenty of books under your tree, or waiting in your eReader's for you on Christmas morning!

Book Recommendations For Gifts

As a book lover, little is more special to me than a book received as a gift. It shows the giver truly knows what I love, and is supporting the industry I work in. In support of my fellow authors, and to help you with your holiday shopping, here is a list of books I would highly reccommed:

YA thriller (edgy, think the movie Scream) : Charming by Krystal Wade

Adult paranormal (sexy, think the earlier Anita Blake novels) Ever After by Kate Serine

Adult paranormal (sexy, think Mercy Thompson books) Weird Girls by Cecy Robson

Contemp Romance (sexy firefighters): Flirting With Fire by Kate Meader

NA Romance: Pieces of Olivia by Melissa West

NA Contemporary (for fans of dance): The Hit List by Nikki Urang

Contemp Romance: The Valentine Challenge by Marisa Cleveland

Contemp Romance (sexy): Dance With a Millionaire by Casey Crow

Paranormal Romance: Ruined by Jus Accardo

MG contemp: Pack of Dorks by Beth Vrabel

YA Paranormal: Katana by Cole Gibson

Holiday romance: Kentucky Christmas by Sarah Title

Parnormal (sexy): Snow White and the Vampire by Marina Myles

Horror: Hell Hole by Hunter Shea

MG Fantasy: Balance Keepers by Lindsay Cummings

M/M Romance: Trowchester Blues by Alex Beecroft

Contemp romance (sexy): Seducing the Princess by Jen MacLaughlin

Historical romance: No Greater Glory by Cindy Nord

Paranormal graphic novel: Satan's Prep by Gabe Guarente

Historical romance: Hero of My Heart by Megan Frampton

Craft books for writers: Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi

Thriller: Flight For Control by Karlene Petitt

Erotic romance: The Star Princess by Jessica E. Subject

Paranormal: They All Fall Down by Angela Brown

Paranormal: A Touch of Darkness by Yelena Casale & Tina Moss

Poetry: Her Olives by Fida Islaih

YA Paranormal Not to Miss: Anomaly

Today I'm excited to be part of my agency sister's exciting YA paranormal release, Anomaly. This author and her book are a double whammy because they are both AMAZING! You know when you red a book and you think "OMG, I hope they make that into a movie!", this is that kind of book. And the icing on the cake is that Tonya is one of the sweetest people, so heat up those clicking fingers my friends because you don't want to miss this!

Anomaly (Schrodinger's Consortium #1)

by Tonya Kuper

Release Date: 11/25/14

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Reality is only an illusion.
Except for those who can control it…

Worst. Birthday. Ever.
My first boyfriend dumped me – happy birthday, Josie!- my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening…

Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it.
When hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead…

Find it on:
B&N / Amazon

About the Author

Tonya Kuper's debut, ANOMALY, the first in the Schrodinger's Consortium young adult scifi trilogy, releases November 2014 by Entangled Teen. She lives in Omaha, NE with her two rad boys and husband, is a music junkie, and a chocolate addict. Star Wars & Sherlock fan.

Author Links: