My grandmother, Mary Gladys Shearin, passed away today. She was actually Derek’s grandmother; however, by the time I was ten years old, both sets of my grandparents had already died. So, when over twenty years ago, when Derek took me “home to meet the family” and his grandparents Paul & Mary gave me big hugs and welcomed me to the family — at that moment, they became my grandparents, too.

Grandmother Shearin was 101 and a half years old. And until only two months ago, she was the one the family asked when we couldn’t remember someone’s name or a date that something had happened. For example, she remembered that it’d snowed on a particular Sunday back in 1945 (she could recall the exact date, who they had lunch with after church that day, and what they’d eaten). Grandmother Shearin remembered virtually everything.

She was born in 1910. I can’t imagine having seen as much as she did in her long lifetime. The first “vehicle” she ever rode in was a horse-drawn buggy. Grandmother said she most definitely preferred cars — no bumpy dirt roads, no dust, and no heat. And best of all, you got to where you were going faster.

She was an absolutely voracious reader (she especially loved cozy mysteries) and crossword puzzle solver. And just last Sunday, she was sitting up in bed reading the newspaper. She was so proud of the fact that I was an author.

I’ll be dedicating All Spell Breaks Loose to her.

We’ll be having a family graveside service on Saturday and a memorial service and reception on Sunday. It will give her family, her friends, and the many people whose lives she touched a chance to reminisce, share stories about her, and maybe even smile and laugh.

Grandmother would have especially liked that last part.

I love you, Grandmother. I miss you already.

Things are moving fast on ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE to make that May 29 publication date. My pub date was originally in August (since it took me an extra three months past my deadline to finish writing the book). I didn’t tell you guys, because I knew there would be much wailing and gnashing of teeth. So I stayed in close contact with my fabulous editor Anne Sowards (meaning I probably nagged the heck out of her), and when an earlier date on the publication schedule opened up, Anne grabbed it for me. In addition to being indescribably cute, Anne is also incredibly awesome. : )

As a result, every step in the publication process has been pushed into overdrive to meet that date. I turned in the revisions for ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE last Monday. Anne emailed me two days ago to say that she’d read the book again and was “thrilled!” The word “terrific” was also thrown around. : ) But with the super-speedy schedule, I’ll be getting the manuscript for copy edits next Thursday (the 19th) with the due date back to Anne of the following Thursday (the 26th). I usually get 2-3 weeks for copy edits. FYI, in the copy edit stage, I’m reading for any glaring errors or SMALL changes that I want to make before the book is typeset. At the same time, my publisher’s copy editor is reviewing the book for spelling, grammar, consistency, adherence to my series’ guidelines established over the previous books, etc. Since I’m an editor/proofreader at my day job, my manuscripts are pretty clean when I send them the first time, so a one-week turnaround shouldn’t be a problem.

Especially now that I’m over my cold. Yep, I thought I’d dodged the bullet this time, but without fail, I get sick within a week after turning in a book. I think most authors do. You’re working so hard, and pushing yourself too much, so that when you finally stop, you’re fresh meat for the first germ to wander along. The same is true for going to conventions, so much so that it even has a name — Con Crud.

No cover art yet, but I should get it soon.

So, here I am, back at my day-job office kind of staggering around, half here, half . . . well, not. I think I have a lot in common with a zombie right about now, except that I’m not dead . . . uh, at least I don’t think I am . . . if someone could come and take my pulse (or lack thereof) and let me know for sure, I’d appreciate it. I’m sure my co-workers would. But I put on makeup and actual clothes that you can leave the house in, so I think I look almost lifelike. The scariest thing I did this morning was that I actually drove here. Though fortunately, all I had to do was open the garage door and release my Jeep; it knows how to get here without getting us both killed.

I turned in ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE yesterday at 5:30, that would be PM, after getting up and being at my desk at 5:30 in the AM. Essentially every day from Christmas Eve until yesterday, I saw the sun come up from my desk chair. Oh, yeah, that was fabu. I averaged 10 hours a day working on the book. And on Christmas morning while I had a casserole baking to take to Christmas lunch with Derek’s family, I wrote for about three hours. Yeah.

I’m kind of out of it right now, and I don’t think there’s enough coffee, tea, or jet fuel in the world right now to make me fully functional. But that’s okay, because I don’t really want to be fully functional. I did enough of that over the past week and a half.

BUT . . . all of that aside. I FINISHED THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes, I know that many exclamation points is normally considered excessive, but trust me, in this case, it’s not.)

I rewrote A LOT of it, and as a result — I think this book conpletely (jeez, I can’t spell this morning) and utterly kicks buttocks (Oooh, fancy word this morning. I may have just regained the use of another brain cell. Yea, me!) As soon as I get final approval on it, I’ll post the first three chapters for your enjoument (sheesh, I still can’t spell). And hopefully within the next week or two, I’ll be able to post the cover (it’s freaking awesome). And then as we get closer to the publication date (May 29), I’ll start having the pre-publication contests that I usually do.

I think I’ll go scrounge in the office kitchen now and find some coffee beans to chew on.

Your happy zombie-author,
Lisa

Hi All! I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

And give you an update on my progress on the All Spell Breaks Loose edits.

It’s not going quickly, but it’s going well. I’m now on Chapter 19 of 23. I’ve deleted about 50 pages of copy that simply wasn’t good enough, and am writing new (and kick-ass) copy to replace it. I’ll probably have to work on Christmas night, but that’s okay because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not an oncoming train. I’m working hard because I want this book to blow you all away. It’s the culmination of the Saghred storyline, and it has to live up to the title of All Spell Breaks Loose.

That being said, it WILL NOT be the last book featuring Raine or any of the other characters you’ve come to know and love. However, I will be taking a wee break from the series to start an Urban Fantasy series that’s been in my head for the past six years, that I’m simply dying to get my hands on. It’s gonna be freakin’ awesome! I would love to be able to write the two series (Raine & the UF) at the same time; however, I’m not making enough money from my writing to be able to quit my day job. And as long as I have to have a day job, it’ll be one series at a time and one book a year. Sorry, folks. However, if you all spread the word even further about my books, maybe my employment situation will be able to change.

And for those of you who are worried that I’m pushing myself too hard right now, rest assured that I’m happy and relaxed. I can still work hard and enjoy the holidays at the same time. I’ve been careful not to over-commit myself. For example, I usually send a table full of Christmas cards. Because of the time it would take away from the book, I didn’t do that this year. I took that, and a few other things, off my schedule. Yes, I’m working hard, but I’m working smart and happy.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and I love you all!

Your jolly elf author,
Lisa

Okay, I’m coming up for air to give you all an update on the edits. I’m now at the halfway point in the book, and have a little over three weeks to get the rest of it done. Unless a major miracle happens, I anticipate working on Christmas Day. I hoped to avoid that, but it doesn’t look like I’ll have a choice — I’m behind schedule. Fortunately, the ad agency where I work will be closing between Christmas and New Year’s Day, so I’ll probably be living in sweatpants and a hockey jersey, and eating a lot of takeout, to get the edits finished. But once they’re finished, there will be much rejoicing in the Shearin house. : )

Normally I’ve posted the first three chapters by now as a Christmas present for all of you, but since I had to get a three-month extension on my original deadline, everything is running late. Sorry about that! However, I have seen the completed, final cover for All Spell Breaks Loose, and I have to say that it’s my favorite. I don’t have permission to post it yet, but I should get that right after the holidays. I can’t wait for you all to see it!

Back to the edits,
Lisa