1k-a-day Friday Giveaway Winner 4

As you know, we're giving a book away to a random winner each Friday. All you have to do is post your word count once throughout the week to be entered.

This week's book is Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. Here is the description from scottwesterfeld.com:

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She’s a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn’s paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

I used a random generated number site, listing each person in no particular order who posted their word count at least once. This week's winner of is:

Leona!!!!!!!!

Congrats Leona! Please email me at YAedge at yahoo dot com with your address and I'll mail it off.

For those who didn't win this week, don't worry. We still have tons of books to give away and big prizes for the last week of the challenge! Thanks again to all who participated last week!

1k-a-day Day 25

Day 24 word count: 0
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I started strong yesterday, plotting and plotting. I'm sure I hit 1k, but I wrote in my coil notebook and, frankly, it's a mess. Crossed out sections and arrows and stuff in the margins. Hopefully I'll be able to turn my scribbles into something meaningful today. Good luck!

Day 24 word count: 1,575

Parlor current word count: 25,493

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Yesterday was a nice recovery day from Comic Con. We got up early and headed over to the eye doctor before have a great breakfast at one of our favorite morning restaurants. Then it was off to the park so Milo, our Corgi, could run around and get some of the energy he's been balling up this past week. The afternoon came, and I was ready to write. I love when I don't have to force myself to sit down to hit 1k, but actually enjoy open my computer and digging into the story. Overall, the rewriting is going well, and I have yet to have to touch my other WIP. I think getting a new idea during the month helped me pull away from Parlor for a day or so. I came back refreshed and actually solved a few problems I was having with character relation! I love when my brain does work behind the scenes.

We have a big week for giveaways! Be sure to stick around for the final days of 1k-a-day!

1k-a-day Day 24

Day 22 word count: 1209

SS current word count:

LI current word count: 1209

WS current word count:

Well I seem to have come to an impass with SS. Or maybe it's a fork in the road. Anyway, it could end two completely different ways. I didn't want to decide just yet, so I wrote for one of my other projects yesterday instead. Nothing like avoidance, eh?

Part of me wants to write two different endings and then pick the one that has the most umph...hmmm....perhaps I'll plot them out today to see what develops.

Remember 1k-a-day (and an apple) keeps the loonybin doctors at bay. ;)

Day 22 word count: 0

Parlor current word count:

WD current word count:

Unfortunately I was unable to write yesterday. Comic Con took over (and I had a blast) but a small headache turned into a migraine. Never fun. The last thing I wanted to do was write. I could barely see!

We're starting the last week of 1k-a-day. Amazing how quickly a month can fly by. Don't forget, we'll be giving away the normal Friday book this week, but I believe we'll also be giving away one on Wednesday! At the end of the month, Tracy and I are putting together a large prize pack to one of the participatant as well. When it gets closer, we will be announcing what's included! The prize pack will consist of books (even signed or ARCs), swag and more!

1k-a-day Day 23

Day 22 word count: 1042
SS current word count: 62 599
LI current word count:
WS current word count:


I worked my 1k in amongst a lot of reading time. I finished Shannon Delany's 13 to Life. Shannon is a fellow Class of 2k10 author and she writes about werewolves. How fun! I had the honour of meeting her during our 2k10 NYC / BEA tour in May. She's not only a great author, she's one heck of an organizer and all round fire cracker. ;) I also picked up my copy of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater and will start on it today. I adored Shiver (the first in the series) and can't wait to sink back into the dreamy Sam and Grace world. If you haven't seen the trailers or experienced the music Maggie makes - go here now!


Now, I know some authors who specifically avoid reading titles within their genre for fear of being influenced - a valid point. But I'm the opposite. Here I am working on my next werewolf story and the were / shifter genre is what I'm keen to read. I admire how other authors tackle the tough parts of writing shifters - you can only use the words "snort" or "growl" so many times. I become aware of what is cliché and how to twist those clichés within my own story. Plus, I'm reading books I'd be fawning over even if I wasn't a writer. I just love these tales.


Day 22 word count: 4,612
Parlor current word count: 23,918
WD current word count:

Despite starting late in the day, I got a lot done yesterday as you can see! Not every single word in that count was new, but it seemed like I touched each whether I moved it, rewrote, deleted or added to it all. It was actually one chapter that was long and a lot of info is crammed into. I'm glad I got it finished and I'm happy with it (or semi-happy) so I can not worry about it tomorrow while at Comic Con.

I hope everyone has a great day! Don't forget to post your word count. I will be posting the book up for grabs later today/tonight! Good luck everyone!

1k-a-day Day 22

Day 21 word count: 1000
SS current word count: 61 557
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I was so close to 1k yesterday but ended on some weird number like 997 or something, so I added a few "blabla"s at the end of my last sentence to get 1k even. How's that for a number fixation? By the end of July I'll be using charcoal from our firepit to scribble "1k" all over my office walls in a thousand languages (including Sanskrit) and babbling about it being the new number of the beast. Ha! See, this is why I write fiction, so I can explore my madness without going...you know...full-on mad. In theory.

Did I have a point here? Ummm....not really. Anywho - have a great Thursday and may it be numerically advantageous to us all.

Day 21 word count: not sure!
Parlor current word count:
WD current word count:

So, I'm back in San Diego! Man did I drive a lot yesterday. About 45 minutes to the signing, then a little over an hour back (yay rush hour traffic!) and then it took me about 2 hours and 45 minutes to get home from LA. That being said, it was worth it! I had such a great time at the Ally Carter/Melissa De La Cruz signing. Both girls were fabulous! They each talked for a few minutes to start off and then did a pretty long question and answer session. Everyone was able to get in questions (there was about 60 people there which is pretty good considering they did a signing just down the freeway the night before) and the answers were awesome. After that part was done, they signed. I love stores (especially indie stores like Vromans! If you're ever in the LA/Pasadena area, please do yourself a favor and visit them. They are the largest and oldest Indie book store in Southern California and have a great staff and AWESOME YA section.) that let you bring books from home to get signed. They were great about it and I was able to get the first Gallagher Girls book signed, the new one, the 3rd one, Heist Society and Ally's 1st book (not YA) all personalized. It was great because her first book, Cheating with Solitaire is out of print so she was just a little surprised to see it! Both girls took the time to talk to each person they signed for, amazing! Ally Carter's books are one of the reasons I started reading/writing YA, so it meant a lot to me. Thanks Ally!

Wow, that was long. Can you tell I'm STILL excited about it!? Oh, I also bought Lies by Michael Grant. I have yet to still read Hunger (the second in the Gone trilogy), but I couldn't pass it up as it was signed from when he was there a few weeks ago. I also got up the courage (I'm really shy in person) to say hi and introduce myself to Kami Garcia (co-author of Beautiful Creatures/Beautiful Darkness) which was nice. She's awesome. :)

So, back to the real world and writing. Yesterday I was able to do a little editing, but not much adding to the word count, which is why I have no idea how many words I wrote. In the end, I was happy with what I got accomplished because I was able to tweak the first 4 chapters again (seriously, will I ever move on?)

As far as today, I'm going to try to get a bit of writing in because tomorrow is Comic Con here in San Diego! I'll be going to the Beautiful Creatures/Beautiful Darkness signing, as well as trying to pick up free swag from a bunch of booths around. I'll give my full report on Saturday.

I hope everyone is having a great week. Tomorrow we'll announce which book is up for grabs this week. Don't forget to post your word count at least once to be entered.

Happy writing!

1k-a-day Day 21

Day 20 word count: 1507
SS current word count: 61 557
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I was happy with my word count yesterday. I think the hail storm inspired me. Nothing like Nature's fury to help with a battle scene. Huddled in the house with two freaked out dogs, the thunder did sound like mortar rounds going off - as close to trench warfare as I want to get.

Hopefully Tami will be able to log in today. Okay....I'm off to write....good luck peeps!






Day 20 word count: 250
Parlor current word count:
WD current word count:

So I only wrote 250 words, but with traveling and being in LA, at least it's something. I hope to write some today but don't have much hope. We'll be heading to Pasadena early for lunch and then the signing at 4. Can't wait! Will tell you all about it tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great writing day! Maybe I'll have some swag to give away after tonight!

1k-a-day Day 20

Day 19 word count: 0
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Yesterday I deliberately avoided the computer as I was still recovering from my garden weeding misadventures. I managed to jot down some notes to expand upon today, but didn't count them. Have a blast on your trip, Tami! On your recommendation, I bought one of Ally Carter's books and will dive into it soon.

Good luck everyone! 1k or bust!

Day 19 word count: 1,000
Parlor current word count: 19.306
WD current word count:
The Dream book: 2,212

Okay, so I didn't write exactly 1,000 words yesterday, but it's hard to tell how many I have. It was around 1,800 but some of those were from research I read on mythology I was looking into for the new book idea I have, so to be fair I just said 1k. :) My day was odd yesterday because I tried to do all my house choirs in the morning before the heat was too much to handle. I got a ton done in the morning, but not much in the afternoon. I wanted to go to the library to do some more research, but it was closed. Stupid budget cuts! So, instead I went home and found a few sites online that helped me with my research.

Tomorrow's post might be a little late for me, but we'll see. I'm heading to Los Angeles today for the Ally Carter signing at one of my all time favorite book stores, Vromans. The signing is at 4pm on Wednesday, but I've decided to go a day early and visit with my family. Hopefully I'll get some writing done and will be able to tackle my check in post on my mom's computer (she still has dial up, so wish me luck).

1k-a-day Day 19

Day 18 word count: 497
SS current word count: 60 050
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I was halfway through my 1k when the sunshine got to me. I ended up weeding the garden (our potatoes, lettuce and cucumbers are doing great!), getting the plastic kid pool out for the dogs and watching their antics most of the afternoon. Then - of course - I had a mean case of sunstroke. Cause, why would I wear a hat? Why would I hydrate with water? It's been so long since we had a cloudless, sunny day, I apparently forgot the basics. My evening was spent nursing a headache, watching episodes of Reaper (season 1) and laying on the couch.

Anywho - I plan to stay inside today and write. Good luck to us all on this fine Monday morning!


Day 18 word count: 1,212
Parlor current word count: 19,306
The dream book: 1,212
WD current word count:

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I woke up on Sunday morning with a dream so vivid it felt as if I had lived it. I told my husband about it right away and the first thing he said, "I think you have your next book." As if I needed another one! So, I used my 1k on Sunday for writing my dream down. I still have a bit to go, because while I wrote, I got more ideas but it's a start. We then spent the evening at On the Border for happy hour, drinking margaritas and talking over the story ideas again. I forgot how fun a new story can be! I'm really excited about it, and hope it makes me want to finish Parlor even faster. We'll see where the dream leads me, but right now it leads me to my 1k-a-day. Don't you love when that happens?

1k-a-day Day 18

Day 17 word count: 2447
SS current word count: 59 553
LI current word count:

WS current word count:

I smoked through my 1k and continued onward. I really thought I was going to make 3k, but alas, Reaper season 1 caused a distraction. And then we went to see Inception (which for some reason - seriously not Freudian, I have 3 fur kids and that is IT! - I keep wanting to call Conception...lol...) Other than painting a few panels on our fence, there is nothing in my way of aiming for 3k today.

Congrats to Mary! Graceling looks like a wonderful read.

Day 17 word count: 0
Parlor current word count: 19,306
WD current word count:

I feel shame. :( I didn't write yesterday because it was too hot and we had to cram in a bunch of stuff before wasting away in the heat (it was over 100 degrees today and we don't have A/C). Not a good excuse, but that's all I've got. It's only the second day of writing nothing for 1k-a-day so not too shabby. That being said, I need to hit it hard tomorrow. I have a busy week coming up where it will be hard to find time to write.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and congrats again to Mary. We will be giving away more books next week, so stick with us. There are a bunch of great ones still on the giveaway list that Tracy and I need to purge from our collection so we can make room for new books!