I’m moving everything to the new website/blog after this, like I told you. So if you want to know what’s going on in my writerly world, go to

http://www.vanessabarger.com

You can subscribe to the updates there and find out more info!

In the meantime I am thrilled to announce that we’ve sold A WHISPERED DARKNESS to Month9Books! Woohoo! Its scheduled to come out in Spring 2014, so mark it down!

Here’s the announcement from Publisher’s Marketplace:

I’m so excited to be able to share this one, and I hope that I’ll see you all at the other blog. I’m trying to get more organized, and I think it looks pretty good to boot!

SQUEEE!!!!!

I hope those of you who are following me here will join me over at http://vanessabarger.com (previously vanessabarger.weebly.com)

There could be great news in the future, so be sure to keep an eye out!

So here we go – as my captive audience I’m sharing a few with you guys. For real.

The first is to continue to lose weight and get in shape. I managed to lose 20 pounds since July, and drop a pants size. I intend to keep it going. To that effect, I’m joining Gina Lamm and Sidney Bristol in keeping each other motivated. So WOOHOO! Let’s go!

2 – I’m going to outline my novels better, and I plan to finish two more this year. What those will be is still up in the air. Going along with that, I intend to continue keeping a writing journal again. It helps so much, and sometimes I forget that and then look back at the one I had and realize it all over again. So I’ve scrounged all the blank or almost blank journals and set them aside. Once I get going, it doesn’t take long to fill them.

3 – This is one that isn’t quite as big, but I intend on reading and watching more movies, and keeping track of them. I haven’t decided if I’ll review them online, but I will be keeping a reading list and crossing things off as I finish them. I’m even adding it to the blog so you can keep track with me (and make book suggestions – I’m always up for new titles to check out)

There are a few more, but they’re actually more personal than this, and I’m not quite that open on the internet. But hopefully, these are attainable goals, and with some effort, I can keep it up.

What things are you hoping for in 2013? Got any suggestions for me, or book/movie recommendations?

I’m not in love with my blog header/website design. I’m thinking about redoing it. Weebly has some great layouts, and I can modify to my heart’s content. But I’m trying to decide whether to go dark, or light. And what exactly to put on that main page.

Right now I can’t afford a true website with design and everything. Someday, when I win the lottery or hit the book sale win, maybe. But for now, I love the weebly site. I just want a change.

So which do you think?

What things do you LOVE in author websites? Wish they had?

What things make you CRAZY? (I can promise you, there will never be an autoplay sound bite. I HATE those things!)

What will make you automatically love them/take a look at their work?

Thanks for the help, everyone I do appreciate it. Spread the word, too. Even if you’ve never read my work, I still want to know what you think of author websites in general.

Hopefully this will be my year. Its 2013, and 13 is my lucky number, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. With some changes in my life, I’m slowly getting back into a new routine, and writing is happening. Slowly but surely.

Cry Havoc is nearly finished. I’d hoped to get it done and sent to Amazin’ Agent before Christmas, but the ending and I are struggling to fight it out. I think i’ve finally won, and it should be finished before February rolls around. *knocks on wood*

The other story, a fantasy, I’d been working on, I got about 10,000 words into and decided I hated it. Not just a little dislike. Oh no, I’m talking full-on disgusting, can’t-even-look-at-you hate it. I found some notes I’d made before starting and decided I liked the other ideas much better. But they’re light years from this one, so I don’t know if its worth it.

Time will tell. What things are you working toward this year? Goals?

So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, filled with laughter, good food, good friends, and family. Enjoy it, and remember, Christmas is calorie free. So have the extra cookie!

And of course, Happy New Year! I hope 2013 is filled with amazing things for all of us!

********

The culprit throws open the door between the library and study, and I catch a flash of silver and red as the knife disappears into a pocket. Jerking back behind the chair, I press against the furniture, wishing I could disappear into the upholstery. I hear the murderer take two steps in my direction, but voices begin to grow louder from the hallway. The intruder gives a breathy hiss, but it isn’t enough to recognize the voice. My body trembles and I’m afraid my teeth will chatter and give me away.

Risking another glance around the edge of my hiding place, I see the dark silhouette pause, the head scanning the room one more time. I look away, pulling myself into a tighter ball of satin and fear. Then footsteps lead away into the hall the way I came in.

My brain doesn’t want to function. I should get up, run, and find help. But my feet remain tucked beneath me. I think a few people pass by, but I can’t be sure. There’s a low buzzing in my ears, and it’s all I can do to put my head between my knees when I start to see black spots dance before my eyes.

Fear, panic, and denial roll into a heavy lump and lodge beneath my breastbone. This isn’t happening. I’ll wake up in bed, wrinkled and hung over from too many sips of Dad’s drink. I’ll walk into the kitchen, where he’ll give me a cup of coffee and shake his head. And he’ll still be here.

No matter how many times I pinch my arm, I don’t wake up. The nightmare is real. I don’t know how long I sit there before there are shouts, and the door crashes open. Light floods the room, blinding me. I hear people thunder inside, crying and shouting. I hear Uncle Claude sobbing.

Owen, my best friend, finds me. Everyone else is still crowds around the door on the other side of the room. Vultures. Rubberneckers. They make my stomach turn.

Owen crouches next to me, and with one look, knows I’m not all right. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out I’ve seen something I shouldn’t have.

“Rebekka? Are you hurt?” His voice is gentle, but the glare he shoots one of the partygoers who follows him is anything but. “Rebekka, talk to me.”

The effort it takes to shake my head scares me. It’s as if I’m moving through cold oatmeal. Every movement is an effort. His hands are so warm they burn when they smooth over my shoulders. I know I should say something else, but words won’t leave my lips. My sadness and fears beat at my chest, but if I release them, I’ll never get them to stop. Everyone notices us now and crowds around.

“Are you all right?”

“Did you see what happened?”

“Who did it?”

*****

What do you think?

I should have been writing furiously this month. Its NANOWRIMO. I’m running a writer’s club at school, but I chose to finish Cry Havoc this month. And I will. I’m going to make myself. For awhile I drug my feet because I just wasn’t sure the story was worth it. So far, this has been the hardest to write, and a roller coaster emotionally. My MC is angry, paranoid, and trying to navigate a lot of big choices and problems. I am not an angry person, and I try my best not to be paranoid (lol), so it’s a struggle to write her. I’m always afraid she’s coming off as a whiny brat instead of justifiably paranoid and angry.

And while I read it one day and despise it, I’ll come back the next day and decide I love it. Either way, I still think about it a lot. I’ve decided to take that as a good sign and run with it. Rightnow I’m stitching the two halves I wrote together, and it’s a painful process. I’ve already added something in that doesn’t screw anything up, per say, but it does complicate things.  This is why I try not to write in chunks, but this time I couldn’t avoid it.

But this part is almost done, and then it will just be the end. Which has to be perfect, or the whole thing falls apart.

No pressure, right?

In the meantime, Christmas approaches, and now that Thanksgiving has passed the decorations are up and I’ve started the Christmas chocolates and cookie lists, ornaments, and the bazillion other things that come up in December. I love Christmas, but sometimes things get daunting. Luckily, I did all the decorations last weekend, I got all the Christmas cards written (except a few) last night, and the cookies can’t be started for awhile. I may survive. But then again, I have no idea this year what to get people for Christmas. Presents are proving to be a challenge. Isn’t it funny how you want less things as you get older?

But if I start wandering around with tinsel in my hair, whistling off-key carols, please stop me and send me home.

What things are you up to this December? Plans you’ve made? Are you ready for the holiday madness?

It has been an amazing year so far. I’m immensely grateful and truly blessed, and its never a bad thing to express thanks for it.

I’m so grateful for my family and friends, because they’re always there and they’re always awesome. Even on the bad days.

For my writing friends, both on and off line, because they know what its like to need…just….one…more…word. And how frustrating writing can be. Despite leaving YAFF this year, I can say those ladies are truly amazing, and leaving has been hard, but I know I’ll keep in touch.

For the health scare that turned out all right in the end. Giving up caffiene was a small price to pay compared to what it could have been.

For my fantastic agents, Jenn and Fran. They work hard and put up with tons of emails, and I know someday that magic email will arrive!

For all the little things I forget about everyday, but that make everything worthwhile and keep me sane. Even when some days don’t seem like it.

For my job, my roommate/best friend, my car, the internet, and all the possibilities for the future.

From me to you, I hope that you and yours all have the best of Thanksgivings surrounded by friends and family and people that love you. Enjoy the food, the company, and the day.

And if you’re headed out to Black Friday shopping…. well, I’ll think about you Friday morning when I’m snuggled in bed in the covers.

But, here’s a little something from my new fantasy WIP:

**********

“If you haven’t noticed, we aren’t all that similar.”

He glances back at Gwynn, and irritation and something darker move across his face. “Yes, I gathered that.”

“Well, I would hate for my sister to be alone in her torment.” I reach out with both hands, trying to ignore the tremor that runs down my arms. “Let me drink it and be done.”

“Can you hold it, or do you need help?”

I want to take offense at the words, but they’re said without any emotion at all. “I can manage.” With the edge of the cup to my lips, I pause. “You never answered my question. How long have I been asleep?”

“Two days, give or take a few hours.” He chuckles. “Stop stalling. It only tastes worse when it gets cold.”

Saluting him with my glass, I gulp down a mouthful of the liquid. It scalds my mouth, but I’m almost glad because it distracts me from the taste. Astringent herbs, a little honey, and something that tastes so off as to be revolting.

“Ugh.” I gag. “This is like drinking the soap suds from a horse stall.”

“I promise, it’ll help. You’ve got to drink it all.”

Glancing between the brown liquid and him, I ask, “Any suggestions for getting it down fast?”

The quizzical, calculating look returns to his eyes. “Deep breaths, big gulps. And don’t think about the taste.”

My mouth falls open. “That’s the best you can do?”

“It’s either that or I hold your nose while you drink.”

Inhaling deep, I release it slowly, then tilt the cup and swallow thee huge mouthfuls. It burns my tongue again, but I’m almost grateful for the deadened taste buds. Kai just sits, his arms crossed, waiting and watching. Almost challenging me.

“Why do you keep staring at me like that?” There’s one more gulp left, and I need to distract myself.

“Like what?”

I swallow the last bit and cover my mouth with one hand. Surprising, but I feel a little better. “Like I’m a riddle you can’t quite work out.”

“You are.” He takes the cup. “Record time. I’m impressed.”

I wait, but he doesn’t offer more information. Just gets up, rinsing the cup in a basin of water near the door and setting it to dry on a cloth.

“How long will we have to stay?”

“That depends on you and how fast you heal.”

Whatever he’s given me has begun to take effect. My eyelids are incredibly heavy. “I’ll be a fast healer. Gwynn will want to get settled.”

He moves back to the side of the bed. “I don’t think it’s about what your sister wants. Somehow I think that will be an unusual position for her.”

My eyes close, I’m just too tired to keep them open. Still, I hear him mutter one last line, and I wonder what he means.

“The question is: is she running to save you or herself?”

*********