I GOT IT!

Publisher sent me the ebook copy today for me to proof. I skimmed through the pdf copy and found several mistakes in both layout and typo. Will have to do an in depth correction later on.

But still, SO HAPPY.

They add some decoration and little touches that's appealing, but have to change some information and fix what needs to be fix.

I'm kind of worried about the epub version. From the epub readers software that I have, it's still kind of messy. In some readers it couldn't be read. UGH.

Have sent these issues to publisher in hopes of fixing it.

GUYS,

Publisher texted that they might be able to send me the ebook copy of Touched: The Sword TODAY!!!

New fantasy novel+artwork

I've always wanted to write a fusion of novel and artwork, not quite like graphic novels or visual novel but, a novel, with some artwork thrown in between the pages. And from all the ideas in my idea books, I've actually found one that would set a challenge and give freedom to create for the artist.

Anyway, CC is going to work with me on this one. The book isn't written yet, so it's a work in progress for both of us. 

Here are her works that drew me to her as an artist and that just fits the new fantasy novel. I love how Hayao Miyazaki she can be with her colors and whimsy. 

Isn't it gorgeous? We're currently discussing which styles we'd use and world-building and character descriptions. It's going so well and very fun!

I love when I find new people that I can talk these things with. You can see her other works at her deviantart site. 

COVER NEWS!!!

So, the story is, editor reread final manuscript of The Sword and felt that the original cover--

--which is this one:

--suits Leah perfectly.

And, of course, I agreed with her, so it's decided that we're going to use the original covers:

Living Back Home and Latest Publishing News

You know what comes with big families? BIG PILES OF LAUNDRY.

Well, I really can't complain. It's not like I do the laundry everyday, in fact my brother does and all I have to do is wash my own laundry. But something came up so I had to do it. *shrug*

I think most of my problem with doing it is the boredom. The way I have to wait for it to be over. For reasons unclear to me, the house does not use automatic washer but the old school one where you actually have to fill it up with water (with a faucet but still).

Anyway, not complaining. No sirree. 

Writing is doing horribly. Something about coming home kind of killed my drive. My imagination is still off the charts and I have a new book idea to prove it but....probably because of the 24 hours internet access though. 

I guess that's just something I have to get over and deal. SNAP OUT OF IT, PUNY HUMAN!

Other than that, life is pretty great. At least I'm not starving and so far, family drama has not succeeded in bowling me over. So, yey, for silver linings.

Anyway, PUBLISHING NEWS, editor said that they're working on setting the layout watchamacallit. No news about the covers though.

Publishing News and Reminders

I thought since Touched is in the publishing process that I update on the news I got from publishes about where you can get Touched. Like I mentioned before, the trilogy will be first available as ebooks, with an epub format. We will also be searching for foreign publishers so we can get it on print. Meanwhile, agent have ideas about translating it into Indonesian for the purpose of Indonesian market.

Anyway, editor mentioned that Digital Mizan, my publisher has some ebookstore partners: Qbaca by Telkom on Android/google play platform, wayang force on appstore, scoop on android and appstore, indobooks on android, also we are on negotiation process with http://smartebook.com , and some ebookstore in thailand and Vietnam. They are also considering and reviewing the terms from Amazon.

Hardcopy of manuscript has finally arrived in my editor's hands and now I'm waiting for news about the covers. 

Since we're waiting, I thought I'll refresh your memory (and mine) with the early chapters of the book and dreamcasts. I will also upload some snippets along with a playlist. 

My My My

It's been a while since I've posted anything in any of my blogs. Sorry blogs, I've been busy. 

I'm still writing, though progress is slow but I'm getting to the 50K NaNoWriMo word count. Either than, I have been spending time with my friends and my cousin and her family.

This is probably the handful of times that I had a chance to be alone. But hey, Editor said contract will be sent today, God willing. 

Today, will be meeting my friends Zie and Dhee for a little girl bonding. And I also want to buy Gail Carriger's Soulless, since I can't seem to find Sarah Rees Brennan's Unspoken. Grrr.

Am sending final draft of Touched-edited manuscript to publisher, am freaked that I missed a word/a typo. My brain often skips through them and just fill in the blanks by itself so I never notice them until someone points it out. And since publishing something in English is a new thing for my publisher, they don't have someone who can proofread in English, and I seriously need one...and a Grammar Nazi to point out my stupidity.

Other than that, I'm good. Still feeling a little nauseated about family drama and I really want to avoid going home for as long as I could but--

...oh well. *shrugs*

Oh and hey, new story idea which is aweeeeeesome!!! I really like the female character in this new idea of mine, and the rapid-fire sass between her and the main male character. Funnily, I got this idea when I was channel surfing and my attention was caught by the 2011 version of Conan the Barbarian.

It'll be another fantasy of course, and I already kind of know the main plot, and I know there'll be sword fights and magic, and strange destinies, humor and most of all angst. I can practically taste the angst.

The female character would be different from most of my female characters who are mainly easy going, she's going to be rigid and kind of a tight ass about her rules since she was raised in a sort of magic nunnery. She upholds goodness and kindness and compassion on a pedestal but is jaded enough to be practical when the occasion calls for it.

Since she was little she was forcefed by the high priest and priestesses that she has some sort of special destiny that she has to fulfill no matter what the price. She's not all that sheltered, but she's sheltered enough to feel aghast when she runs into a group of desert pirates, one of them being the male character.

The male character is uber-practical, as one would be when one is born into a tribe of desert travellers. He's practically royalty since his tribe is a big and prosperous one, highly sucessful in finding and trading things with countries that general people have never even heard of. But one day, his whole tribe was massacered because they were accused of hiding a traitor of the nation etc. A small number of them, him and his brother and his friends survived and they became what they are now: desert pirates, living day by day in hiding and always up for a brawl and misbehaving, especially when there is the Sultan's gold involved.

It's a clash of black and white and shades of grey really. The story promises to be a fun one. And I'm excited about writing it....

I just realize how "promises to be a fun one" is not something that I should be saying, in fact I should be saying "it's going to be a lot of fun" you know, like I'm certain that it will.

But you know what? This is how I write, I discover the story rather than making it up. My stories are usually already there inside my head, I just have to pick one and march on, following each thread of the story as I write.

BIG DAY TODAY!!!

Ooooh, big day. BIIIIIIIIIIG DAY. Am meeting with editor of publisher and the CEO of my lit agency. We'll be signing the contract so we can move along the publishing process. So of course right now, I'm being a complete worry-wart. Wondering what to wear...for like five seconds. And that's quite a feat.

Am in Jakarta right now, found out some things about FAMILY DRAMA from cousin D who I am currently eating out of house and home. Am feeling uneasy about moving again and I know if I think about it, I'll stress myself out and I'm having a hard time writing already so, should compartmentalize that for when I'm not so busy.

Am making some appointments to meet friends and...well, am trying to continue writing #GoV, although I always end up writing #WAH instead. I can't help myself.

Anyway, have already made appointments to meet Dhee, Zie, Twin and GB and Nino'. I know, I have no friends that have normal nicknames, although why would you have a normal nickname anyway? If you want normal go with your real life name, you know?\

But, I digress.

Anyway, am hoping really, really hard that this deal will move forward so I can finally say I'm a published author....which would be all my dreams come true.