Tag Archives: killer orange

Writing Status: Mod Fury

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As some of you have guessed, my novel Killer Orange is currently on hiatus while I continue to go through edits (when there is time and motivation). I’d rather spend more time on it than give people a piece of crap story, of course!

In the meantime, I am beginning a short story series about the Greek Furies that I mentioned once before. I have been working on this, as well as the outlines for the other stories in the series.

I plan on releasing Mod Fury (The Avenging Sisters Series #0.5) either end of April or mid-May, which is soon. It depends on my health and available time. I just found a perfect cover image today and will be working on the design to post a teaser soon. Thanks to my editor, not many revisions are needed, so I’ll go through it again a few times and prep it for Amazon.

Unlike Unbridled, Mod Fury will not be a romance. There may be some, but it will be in the background. It is purely paranormal adventure and modern myth with kick-ass females.

Mod Fury will have a low e-book price and be KDP only in the beginning. I haven’t had much luck with other e-book sellers, so I’m sticking to Amazon for now. When the second book of the series comes out (hopefully by next early Winter), tentatively entitled War Fury, then Mod Fury will permanently be free. That’s the plan!

In the coming days I’ll post more about Mod Fury as updates arise.

Thanks!

H.K. Rowe

 

 

Back to Writing

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I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s been almost a week since I had any severe morning sickness. YAY! I’m still really tired and take naps any chance I get, but at least I don’t feel sick all the time.

I’m getting back into writing. I still write a lot in my journal about my pregnancy, and I’m looking into a couple contests that are coming up. I’m going to ATTEMP Camp Nanowrimo again, so fingers crossed on that. There’s a challenge community at Livejournal that has some prompts that I’m hoping will jumpstart some original fires.

I’m hoping to post some snippets here.

Also, my short story “Mod Fury” about the Greek Furies in modern times seems to be growing into a series. I might release the #0 prequel origin story mid-April. That’s my goal anyway.

“Killer Orange” is still in edit-mode, when I want to look at it! Ha.

I’m trying to just roll with things. We’re still extremely busy with the house and making it ours. I hope everyone is have a good Spring so far. I can’t wait until it gets warm and STAYS warm in the Chicagoland area!

Cheers!

H.K. Rowe

The 777 Writer’s Challenge

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I’ve been nominated by Aether House to participate in The 777 Writer’s Challenge. The rules? Go to the 7th page of my WIP, find the 7th sentence on that page, and then paste the following 7 sentences into my blog post. And then select 7 other writers for the challenge.

From Killer Orange, the fic I hopefully can finish this year!

Her gaze swept across the lawns of her neighbors, and she realized how much time had passed since she set out on this journey. The sun was already setting over the horizon behind the towering homes.

Her eye caught one of her new neighbors, briskly walking her two dachshunds down the sidewalk. Rebecca noticed her stiff back as she power-walked the two dogs skittering happily in front of her. The woman turned slightly to glance at her, and Rebecca tensed up, hoping she didn’t have to force a greeting. She felt instant relief when the woman quickly looked away, obviously bored and uninterested at her arrival.

She’d hoped that more of her neighbors were like this woman, and if they wanted nothing to do with her, then they would just leave Rebecca alone. 

For anyone who wants to do this, please take the challenge!

Cheers,

H.K. Rowe

Killer Orange cover reveal!!

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Killer Orange IS coming. The editing process is ongoing, and the release date is still slated for end of August 2015. (I hope)

Until then, enjoy the cover of my second novel. I’m very excited about this book and this cover, and I have been going crazy trying to find the right artwork to convey the feeling of the book. (Tag line coming soon.)

Summary: When reclusive artist Rebecca Miles moves into her new house in the Sunshine Sands community, she is hoping to live quietly with pleasant neighbors. Instead, she gets pulled  into a terrifying subculture of over-tanning and pressured vanity. Rather than leaving her alone, her new neighbors are determined to either make her into one of them or cast her out on deadly terms. Her alluring and gorgeous neighbor Daniel seems to be her only ally, hoping to inspire Rebecca to rise above her own fears.

I will probably publish a couple of other short stories within the mix this summer as well. Happy Beltane everyone! Let me know your thoughts on my cover, and I’ll answer any questions about the upcoming book!

Cheers,

H.K. Rowe

Catching Up

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I feel like I have spurts of activity here, and I don’t mean to disappear. I do keep up with the people I’m following as best as I can, but sometimes I don’t have a lot to report on my writing front, or life in general I guess.

Spring is here so I’m in a de-clutter mode. Plus, when you live in Chicagoland, when the deep freeze is over, people start wanting to do things and come out of hibernation. So, we’ve got more to do now that it’s nice out. I’m loving to get back to walking my dogs in the warm weather.

Writing is going slowly, but I’m still participating in Camp NaNoWriMo and steadily moving along. My short story is called “Petra’s Revenge” and the more that I think it’s only going to be around 7K, it might end up being 10K in word count. Ah, so it goes.

I’m finalizing the cover for Killer Orange. I’ve been slacking on it even though I’m determined this week to get back to editing. Making the cover has given me some inspiration. I will do a cover reveal in May. So, coming soon!

I have such great support for my books. My husband is of course, is my biggest cheerleader and I don’t know what I would do without him. He even went so far to make me a fan art cover for Killer Orange. It’s ridiculous and made in Paint, but it’s just so like him to be wacky like that, to be encouraging and silly.

But it’s cool to see unlikely sources ask about my books and writing; friends of friends, in-laws, and even my boss.

I’m thankful for warm fuzzy feelings.

Well, back to the real world! Good luck with everything, guys.

Cheers,

H.K. Rowe

Excerpt Sunday – Killer Orange

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From my final draft of my dark romantic comedy Killer Orange.

“Herb, look at your girl, she’s as white as a sheet,” he said, motioning to his brother, her father. “Don’t you let her play outside? She’s gonna get anemia if you keep her locked up indoors all the time.”

Rebecca froze, feeling strangely frightened as he put her on the spot.

“Leave her alone,” Herb replied with a dismissive wave. “Her skin is sensitive, just like her mother’s. Even the doctor said not to keep her in the sun for too long.” Her father took a swig of beer and tossed a Frisbee to her grandmother’s new Husky puppy.

Rebecca got up from her spot on the deck, wanting to join her dad with the dog. As she neared her uncle, he suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her next to him. She shrieked.

“Calm down, girlie, and sit with your uncle Bob,” he commanded her. “Sit in this sun and get some color.”

“I don’t want to, uncle. I want to play with the dog,” Rebecca whined, trying to get up.


He wouldn’t release his hold on her, which only served to frighten her more. She gritted her teeth as she gazed out, seeking any help she could find.

Her dad’s back was facing her, and he was too engrossed in the dog to pay attention. Her mother was inside napping, probably from too much sun, and her cousins had left to buy ice cream and play at the nearby park. Her grandmother was nowhere in sight either, probably in the house grabbing a refill in snacks.

She was alone with her uncle Bob, and she didn’t like how his rough tanned skin rubbed against her as he held her down beside him.

© HK Rowe 2015

Excerpt Sundays – Killer Orange

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As promised, I’m sharing an excerpt from one of my current projects. Killer Orange is one of the closest projects of mine to publication. I’m in the editing stage right now and polishing up the last draft.

Here is an excerpt from one of the earliest chapters.

Sunshine Sands had once been a high-priced community where people bought plots of land and custom built their houses. After the housing market collapsed in 2008, communities like Sunshine Sands no longer held their initial luster. The community became desperate for buyers as housing prices fell and their richer residents abandoned their houses for better, bigger mansions. Sometimes owners rented out their houses, but Rebecca remembered the real estate agent sniffing her nose at the term renters and upon seeing Rebecca’s shock, had quickly moved the conversation forward.

“She really wanted to make a sale,” Rebecca muttered under her breath, when she suddenly realized she’d been talking to herself for a while in the car.

Shrugging inwardly, Rebecca surveyed the area outside the subdivision that was to become her new home. The reality of having her own home didn’t feel real to her yet, and she hoped she could learn to love this house like a favorite pair of jeans. The novelty of its newness excited her, and she hoped her neighbors were more pleasant than the beady-eyed, lip-curling rednecks of Oneco.

“They’d have to be. No one could be that bad,” she murmured with a chuckle, as the country music playlist ended and switched over to hard rock.

Anticipation filled her as she turned down Shasta Daisy Street and headed toward the sectioned off subdivision. Her phone’s GPS beeped and told her that she arrived at her destination. She pulled her Lumina onto the next small street, which immediately stopped her at some steel gates. There was a security guard on duty, and he glanced at her, looking inconvenienced from his copy of Fifty Shades of Grey as she waited for him to verify her ID and buzz her inside.

Rebecca handed him her crisp ID and her community pass, and when he looked at her, she felt like he was surveying her like a hungry bird. Rebecca shrank back instinctively at his steely stare. She met his annoyed expression, and her gaze drifted to his skin.

Gee, for an old guy, he sure is tan! she thought, and it almost sickened her as she pushed away the rising anxiety that was balling up in her stomach.

“So, you’re that new lady that purchased the Baker house on Ray Court.” He sniffed at her, unimpressed by her looks without even trying to get to know her. Rebecca hardly cared; she often received such reactions from strangers. Other than her striking pale skin and cherub face, she really didn’t have distinctive features that impressed anyone.

“Um… yeah, it’s the house where my aunt’s friend Kolee Baker lived. She found a great place on the coastline of Florida,” Rebecca replied. She beamed at him with a fake smile and shrugged. “This housing market, eh?”

The overly-tanned security guard nodded slowly, but his eyes seemed wary of her. He finally returned her ID and pass and buzzed her through. When Rebecca finally drove on, she let out a sigh that felt like a thistle had been stuck in her throat.

“What’s with the judgmental looks?” she mused aloud, and she almost wished she’d taken her friend Sophie up on her offer to move in with her. Sophie would’ve had the perfect snarky comment to put Rebecca at ease. Plus, Sophie would’ve truly scared the daylights out of the guard with her dark eye makeup and scary occult tattoos alone.

Even though Sophie lived on the south side of Chicago, Rebecca didn’t think she needed to bother her friend to come on a weekday and hold her hand while she moved into her new community. Sophie was busy enough with two jobs, and she had helped Rebecca plenty of times already when she’d been house hunting and visiting the area.

Rebecca took a deep breath and drove onward toward her house. She drummed up her internal resolve and encouraged herself to be strong. “I don’t need help from others all the time,” she reminded herself. “I have to learn to live this new life on my own. Without Matthew. Even without Sophie.”

© 2015 HK Rowe

NaNoWriMo Goals – Realistic vs. Lofty

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“Yes, I’m still going to edit Killer Orange when I do NaNoWriMo.” This is what I told myself when I started working out my new story for NaNoWriMo. I mean, I can do it. How hard can it be when I’m juggling two jobs, two needy dogs,a husband and household chores, social situations and anything unscheduled?

Can’t be that hard, right?

I don’t know how it’s going to happen. I don’t know how I am going to fit other staple goals, like drawing and exercise too.

Should I even be doing NaNoWriMo? I wondered about that, but I can’t give it up. Even if I don’t make the 50K, I know I’ll have something started, something that I can work with and someday share with others.

I’m going to try to fit in EVERYTHING because that’s how I am. I work best under pressure. Always have.

Nothing’s going to be perfect, but somewhere in here I’ll be stoked by the energy. I’ll always have something to do. Even if I drive myself crazy.

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Doing all of it AND NaNoWriMo, well, I must be bonkers. That’s the only explanation.

Cheers.

H.K. Rowe

Here comes NaNoWriMo… and those pesky distractions

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As my NaNoWriMo ideas start to come together in my head, I’m looking to the internet for good tips in starting it, working on characters, and thinking about the sorts of conflicts my characters are going to have to really challenge yet stabilize their growing relationship.

There is LOTS of thinking. I’ve done Character profiles. Next I think it’ll be doodling and outlining. I’m almost ready! (I keep telling myself that, seriously.)

I’m also taking notice of some potential distractions. Though, not bad, just…well, distractions…

1) editing Killer Orange: Oh yes. That’s still happening. I’m going to work on my cover soon. I’ve made myself feel guilty enough I haven’t touched it. I am THINKING about it. Though, that doesn’t do too much productively.

2) Unfinished paintings: This may go into December, but a local art shop is looking for submissions. My Ophelia painting is starting to stare at me while I’m in my studio. “Finish me!” And I have a few ideas for some old paintings and how to rework them into something new.

3) Drawings: I still want to draw SOMETHING at least every day, even if it’s just a sketch or maybe even a life drawing study. Drawing really is like working a muscle, and well, I’ve been sorely out of shape.

4) RL: Why do I have to go to work again and not spend all day writing? Oh, right. Bills. I also suppose I have a husband and two dogs to care for. I have family that, for some reason, likes my company. Friends too. Then there’s this really cumbersome holiday coming up in November called Thanksgiving. I have two family sides clamoring for our presence. If only people could be understanding that I’m a writer and maybe I want to hole myself up into my studio and not come out and socialize! No? Well… there you go then.

5) Fitness: I really REALLY need to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise in my day. It’s good for my stress, and I’d LIKE to fit into some of my old pants again. Someday.

So there are my uphill battles for the coming month. Time to put on the armor, take up the Sword of Multitasking from the stone, and ride into battle.

Comeatmebro

Cheers,

HK Rowe

Monday Blogs – NaNoWriMo Thoughts

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I admit… I went from not knowing if I would participate in NaNoWriMo this year, to getting inspired for a brand new story that’s not in my “Story Ideas” folder in my Google Drive.

I’m also sort of excited about it, and the character backgrounds are already beginning to formulate and come together, especially the male character – who my brain seems to add layer upon layer already.

The characters aren’t the only exciting thing I want to play with, it’s the relationship – a May-December relationship that I’ve always had a fascination with, with all the stigmas and notions that come from it – I want my characters to explore that, to find love despite odds and their friends and family disapproving of them. I’m already falling in love with the characters myself, so I feel extremely inspired – yet cautious.

They are still, unfortunately, locked away in my head, and I know if I start opening up that file and jotting stuff down, I’ll fully commit myself to NaNoWriMo and then I might freak out from the pressure.

In addition to that, I’m already starting to feel guilty that “new story” is occupying brain space when I should really be working on Killer Orange editing, which has stalled unfortunately thanks to freelance projects and a busy September. October is starting to look just as crazy – at least on the weekends.

Once I chew through all the anxiety (which is another matter altogether), I really feel I should commit myself to Killer Orange. If I can do that in a month’s time and still manage to begin NaNoWriMo, then I’d consider that a huge, productive achievement.

Fingers crossed!