What's Up In The World Of Maggie

Currently Reading: Nothing (sad isn't it?)
Currently Listening to: The Veronicas

I heard from a very reliable source that the revisions on my first chapter were positive and on the right track to bring the book in a slightly different direction. What, you may ask, is the direction I'm going for? Well I've been told that my MC is too introspective. Her internal conversations are making the book a quiet read, instead of the fun, fast story it was meant to be. And as such I'm revising again.

If you read my last entry you'd know that I was reading The Luxe. After getting through about 50 pages I put it down and haven't picked it back up. I'm not sure why exactly. It's not terrible, in fact, from what I read it has great promise. I think I've simply been too busy and the characters didn't grab my interest fast enough.

I've discovered recently that I quite like being an Accountant. It's not dry and boring like one might suppose (most of the time). I enjoy seeing what the company spends money on...it's a window into the world of insanity.

My wedding is now only 9 months away. Gah! I need to plan, plan, plan, starting with going to a trainer tomorrow. My body has to have some serious fine tuning before I walk down the aisle. Especially if I want to fit into one of these dresses:

Encourage Me!

Currently Listening To: Nickel Creek "When You Come Back Down"
Currently Reading: The Luxe

I've started an intensive rewrite of my first chapter, and it's giving me a lot of trouble this time around. I've now been sitting in front of my computer typing for 7 hours, during which I've managed to type 3 pages (at least 3 that I'm satisfied with). It's possibly the most frustrated I've ever been with my novel. I love Imogene (my mc), now if she'd only do something interesting!

I finished Nefertiti yesterday and found it merely readable. My main issue with it was the passage of time. Years go by in a few pages, and I felt cheated. I wanted to know what happened in the years the author breezed over so often. Another little irritant was that Nefertiti seemed to be nothing more than (excuse the coarse wording) a breeding mare. She has six children and as such is always either pregnant, or about to become pregnant...

I'm only two pages into The Luxe, so it's impossible to judge it at this moment, but I'll be sure to post what I think of it.

Back to Revising (A Very Short Post)

Well, as you can clearly see from the title of this post, I am revising my novel once again. I took a good bit of time this week to celebrate the holidays, and now I have to get down to work. The introductory chapter needs to become stellar and impossible to resist. That's the first of many mini goals I have for this revision. I'll keep you posted on how it goes, and how the agent situation is coming along.

The Holiday Haul

As Promised

An update!

First things first...I am no longer a client of ABLA. Jennifer and I separated amicably, and I'm still confident in my novel.
So I'm currently in the market for an agent :)

I got The Tudors in the mail a few days ago, but I haven't touched it yet. I actually took the time recently to watch the first season of Veronica Mars. I loved it. Kristin Bell is adorable, and her character is surprisingly likable. She has quite a few memorable quips. Throughout the first season she is trying to solve the murder of her best friend Lily and there are a number of twists and turns (including possible incest). The identity of the murderer was a bit of a shock to me. Maybe I'm just blind when it comes to mysteries. Anyway I'd really reccomend the show. It was highly entertaining. I think if you liked the first two seasons of Buffy you'd like Veronica Mars. I can't wait to see the second season...The Tudors may have to wait a while longer.

I've worked a bit on my second novel, adding more backstory to my two main characters. But as you can tell from my word count meter it's slow going.

On February 2nd I will begin covering the Accountant's position at my job. He's leaving for 4 to 6 months for spinal surgery. I'm both nervous and excited, mostly nervous though. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I need all I can get just about now.

Coming Soon...

An update!

A Thanksgiving Birthday

Currently Reading: Into The Wilderness by Sara Donati

Currently Listening To: Harry Connick Jr.

This year my birthday fell on Thanksgiving day. I'm officially 24 years old. (How frightening!) My parents, R. and I traveled to Chicago to celebrate with my sister and her husband. It was absoluetly lovely! We stayed at the Hyatt Regency on Wacker, right next to Michigan Avenue. We reserved a couple of the basic rooms but when we got there they upgraded us to a suite at no extra charge. Apparently they'd over booked the other rooms. R. and I had a magnificent view of the lake and Navy Pier.

After we arrived R. and I took a romantic evening walk down Michigan. The christmas lights were up, and street musicians were playing holiday tunes. We stopped at the Ghirardelli ice cream shop, and I got a peppermint bark sundae. Delicious! I couldn't even finish half of it though, it was way too big. The next day was Thanksgiving, so we spent the day at my sister's in Roger's Park. She lives in a delightful gray stone, only about 2 blocks from the lake.

I received some cash for my birthday and as such I've just treated myself to The Tudors Season One. I've never seen it and I'm really looking forward to it. Amazon.com has it for only $19.99! Not bad, eh?

Still no word from Jennifer yet.