Merry Christmas from Avey World!

Another year has come and is preparing to leave and I am yet spending time with you. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for your kind words and constructive criticisms. Thank you for loving me and my work. All the best to you now and always. Merry Christmas!

Avey

Christmas and Good Music

Have you come over to my spot on FaceBook? I've got twelve musical days that are sure to put you in the Christmas Spirit. From the O'Jays to Luther Vandross, the holiday music is rocking on my page. Want to join the fun? Meet me in FaceBook. Happy holidays!

Avah in FaceBook

Twelve Muscial Days of Christmas

Are we connected through FaceBook? Come visit my page and see which Christmas songs I'm enjoying. I'll be posting from December 12 to December 24. Join me as I go into the music vault and pull out some doozies. See you there!

Avah on FaceBook

Day 12: Channeling

It's day twelve and I'm still at it. Haven't blogged in two days, since I'm only doing week day blogs, and I thought I better get you caught. I'm laying chapters like stones for the temple. Working it out for my readers. I'm thinking about you. Channeling what you want. I want to give my people what they want...

Day 10: Assembly

I'm almost there. A few more chapters and I will have woven the pieces together the way Wisdom has instructed. I've always loved puzzles. I wonder if our love of certain games and our disposition toward certain activities as youths have anything to do with our paths of destiny. As a child, I love puzzles and I LOVED to write. I still love both of those things and oddly enough, they seem to go hand-in-hand at times. Well, a few more days and delivery will be made. I hope my readers like my puzzle.

Day 9: Layering

I believe we all have an anointing for the things we do, the talents we have. I also believe that enhancing your skills for things that come "natural" to you is a great asset. It may not be something everything can or wants to do, but I find value in studying my craft. I agree that natural gifts and talents are wonderful and come with a certain set of unique particulars that can't be obtained through studying. I also believe that the time I spend developing my natural gifts, through practice and study, helps me thicken and improve plots, characters, scenes, etc. The more layers of knowledge I add to me innate abilities, the more layers I can give my readers in the stories I choose to write. For me, it's like dressing for a winter day. The more layers, the warmer the body.

Day 8: Organization

Lots of thoughts and ideas. Now I can see how to lay them straight, how to connect the pieces. It's just amazing to me how this has come together. I am in awe of how this information has been given to me to share. This has to be divine. There is no way I would have known each piece would fit like this. I began this journey in 2002 and while I am still walking this path, I can see that I've come so far. I am more the grateful. And I am more than excited about what lies ahead.

Day 7: Returning

Yesterday was mostly about silence for me. I worked a short day, though not on purpose, but very needed. Today, I've got projects that are very near the final stages - one I plan to complete today.

I still have a few rewrites, a few places to improve with Book Three, but I'm getting there. Today's Literary World is filled with so many people who either want to tear authors down or mimic what we're doing because "it's not that hard." In the midst of all of those voices that bombard us when a new project is on the horizon, we must push through and give our best. My husband says it best, "I'm my own competition. No one can beat me, but me." You know I can't let that happen.

Day 5: Relaxation

I'm back from New Orleans and if I've never had characters speaking to me, I do now. Lots of history and symbolism in that city. Lots of information that gives me background on the Broussards and the Claytons. Even so, I need to decompress and chill. Information overload is the enemy of creativity. I've got a baby to present. Creativity is a must in giving birth.

Day 4: Resolve

I've been working on this title since 2002. It is now 2009. This work is like wine, as are all of my novels. I've researched angles and explored many options with the information I intend to present. I've put my all into this and I will serve no wine before it's time.

Day 3: Realization

I'm putting myself in a box. That's a no-no for an author. We should never allow someone else to put us in a box and we should never voluntarily get in a box. Even if it's our own. I'm sorting. I realize that now. I can almost see the ideas rolling around in there. I can't rush this. If I do, it will suck. That's not an option. Deep breath, breathe out, and...

Day 2: Acceptance

So, I thought about him all night. Ways to make him better. Scenes to remove, dialogue to spice up, characters to develop. I could actually hear a conversation between a few of the peripheral characters. I want to add it to the story, but I don't know yet if it's needed. This is what I call hugging and kissing, the process of pampering my baby. Getting him ready for the world. He has a job to do and it's my responsibility to make sure he's well equipped.

Day 1: Anticipation

Gotta turn my baby in to the editor this week. I feel good about the writing, but I want to hug and kiss him some more. Once I let go, I still have to deal with Cover Anxiety. The shoot went well, but I haven't seen the cover yet. I know it will be beautiful, but the wait is excruciating.

Why? Why must I wait for what I love so much?! Angst...