From The Pages of Kassandra Lea

Sorry I've been away. Guess you could say that it was the written word that kept me busy. There has also been some unhappy news on the non-writing side of things. Turns out I may be loosing one of my furry friends this week; which is utterly heart breaking. My adorable (appropriately named black cat Frodo) may have cancer. He's going into the vet on Wednesday for a closer look. I love him. My critters mean the world to me and it just... I don't want to think of him going so I shall keep my fingers crossed that he's going to be okay. It's not as bad as the vet says... On to the writing bits. Guess what?? They liked the rewritten The Christmas Foal !! Yay! And they're interested in the rest of the series as well. Super excited about it. Sure, it won't come out until February, but you know what that means? I have time to get a few more of the novellas done, like 3 or 4 of the 6. Can I just say it again and again? The contract hasn't officially been sign...

I did it. Very early Tuesday morning I packaged up all the lovely documents required to send in The Christmas Foal. The manuscript, the series outline, the synopsis (have I mentioned how much I hate writing these??). Now comes the long (impatient) wait for an answer. The editor I work with at the publisher was previously interested if I lengthened the story to 30k and added a 6th book to the series, both of which I have done. So here's to hoping... Fingers crossed! This is officially available for purchase, make sure you get a copy. All the proceeds go to charity. Love is Proud Now I've got to get out Boots & Spurs, Promised and Paid For  all by the 15th. Most excellent. And also get at least 2 chapters more done on my novel. Alas, this morning I was turned down for one of my horror stories. Feeling a bit upset about that since I would like very much to branch out further from romance. I'll keep hoping for the others I've sent out. Oh, and if you haven...

When I got my part time job five years ago it was to help pay the bills. Ah, the very meaning of life, money. It was meant to be temporary while I worked on my writing and got my career as an author off the ground. Now here I am 5 years later and working full time. I hate it. My writing is suffering and it's the heart of my depression. This needs to change. I need to find a way to take back my life, immerse myself in writing like I used to do. Because working my FT gig is not my dream. Writing is. Today I finished up a round of edits and a galley proof (that it turns out they got the title of my story wrong). Now I'm trying to finally finish up The Christmas Foal. Fingers crossed I can get it sent out again tonight. I've sent a few horror shorts out, those calls close at the end of the month. Let's see how that goes... I've got so much work sitting on the desk waiting to be finished. Stories to be done by the 15th of August, one of which needs to be 15,000 wor...

That's a horrible thing to say, but it's true. Lately I have been dealing with the horror that is self doubt. Most of it is born from the fact that I'm struggling with a novel. One that I have started a number of times, toyed with it, added scenes, removed some, etc, etc. The problem now is that I have become stuck. And that crack allowed the voice of doubt in. What if my failure to finish a novel is because I simply can't carry a story that long? Isn't that a troubling thought? It keeps bouncing around in my mind, chipping away at my confidence and leaving me afraid to attempt another novel. But I forge on because this is what I live for, this is my passion. So I get around to trying to outline a handful of stories, some of which need to be done sooner rather than later. One of which is a novel with an idea I absolutely love (and allow me to toot my own horn, I think it might be an awesome movie). BAM! There's that stupid little doubty voice again. Then...

So here's an update of my 2016 writing goals. Write More I suppose you could say I've been good at keeping to this one. So I shall keep going! Publish More So the goal behind this was to publish more than I did last year. In 2015 I sold 13 stories. As it stands right now I've contracted 8 stories and it's only May! So I think I am right on track to crossing this one off the list! Write 52 Stories 17 down, 35 more to go. Two Months = One Novel Yeah, let's just say this one hasn't been working out for me. But I have a fresh idea that might help me get a couple novels written this year. Two Months = One Novella I've written quite a few novelettes.  But I guess this hasn't been accomplished either. Publish 1 Story in Another Genre Success!! The contract has been signed. Publish My First Novel Haven't done this either... Review 20 Stories I've done at least one. I have just been so busy writing. Definitely need to start getting into the hab...

I'm terrible at remembering things sometimes. This should have been included in my last post, but then again, maybe I should start doing individual posts for released stories. Ah, there's an idea! So out now, just recently released into the world, is my short story Hardwood.  Another gay romance from the wonderful publishers over at JMS. The inspiration was mostly my own Construction Guy and the fact that I've fallen in love with "Property Brothers". You should definitely pick up a copy . And a wee side note on a different story... All but 1 story from January were rejected and I finally got word on the remaining piece. They wish to hold onto it a little longer for further consideration. Of course I said yes. This could be my first non-romance publication. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Yet again time has slipped away from me and I find myself lax in keeping this blog up-to-date. Such is life when you're stuck working a day job at 40+ hours a week. But this isn't a place for me to vent about my unhappiness there, this is for writing! Lots and lots of delicious writing. Which is another reason why I haven't been here. So where do I start on what has been going 'round my end of the keyboard? I may have put out only 2 stories in March, but able to shove 8 out the door in April. To be fair, 4 were old pieces that I hoped to find homes for. No such luck. 3 of them I have no word on and 1 has sold. So for April I managed to get out 21,867 words . Definitely not a shabby way to spend the month of April. One of the pieces that went out was A Rescued Heart.  Finally. Only took me forever to see it done. Fingers crossed! Selling it would officially make it my longest piece. Unless of course I manage to finish The Christmas Foal  and sell it first. My sold co...