It has been a long time since I have been here.

Not much to report though.  Working on my second book for the most part.  I have quite a bit more that needs to be done with it actually.  I am no wher near ready or editing.  But I will have it ready for the Fall.  I have to.   Well... I have to at least try to anyway.  At this point I don't know what is going on.

 

Not sure how often I will be using this blog.  I have another one I go to more, but I can at least try to use this one a bit more anyway.  It'll work from time to time.  Just need to update some information on the page it seems lol.

 

Anyway- bedtime for the girls so... later.

I'm jumping up and down right now lol.

 

I contacted a bookstore in town here about doing a booksigning/meet the author event with them.  I just got word back from the event coordinator.  She said she needs to see a copy of the book first if I am serious about hosting an event there.  So the next time I get the chance to go into town, I am taking a copy with me with my contact information inside so that she can take a look at it and get back with me. 

I know, it's not a committed thing but still.  They are interested so I could very well be doing a book signing here in the next few months!  When I know more I will be sure to pass along the information. 

 

In the meantime, I have some more agents to collect the information for and get query letters out to lol
 

Well... the search has begin for a literary agent interested in a fantasy novel that can carry with it darker themes.  As interesting as current readers have found it, it is actually quite difficult to locate agents who would be interested in such a themed novel. 

But I am determined so the query letter has been written and guidelines are being researched so that what is requested is given and what isn't requested is left behind.

On top of all this, I have begun to contact several local bookstores in an attempt to set up book signings as well in hopes to bring more attention to the debut to my series.  There are a few that are promising and a few that I have yet to call when, and still a few that have to get back to me.  It is tasking, daunting, but in the end Iam hoping it will also be worth it all.  Either way, I am doing what I wanted to do and I will continue to do so. 

I will update again as I learn more. 

I have been away too long again and thought it wouldn't hurt to let you all know what is going on.  

 

On May 21st, of this 2007 year, Spellbound: Dawn of Destiny was officially released to the public.  It can be purchased on Amazon.com, Borders.com, and arget.com for $17.99 per book.   To add more to this, I had an article done about me and the Spellbound Series for my hometown paper-  The Lapeer County Press.  I have clippings of this article on a blog entry found on the MySpace profile designed for the series:

 

http://www.myspace.com/spellboundseries

 

Also on this site you can find the link to a Spellbounds message/chat forum hosted with Proboards where readers and stop in and dscuss their feelings about the series.  Readers can also chat with me and the cover artist, Jessica Segaard as well on this forum.

 

So feel free to check out the sites and see what you think.  My next task is to seek out a literary agent while I continue to work on finishing my 2nd book in progress- Spellbound: Escape from Darkness.

 

So I am off to work.  Take care all!

 

 

 

XDD

I have finalized the marketing copy guys!  That's it!  As soon as I hear word from Sarah first thing tomorrow morning all the needed files will be uploaded and publication begins ^_^ And just because I feel like it ...

Here is what the marketing writer has for my publicity write ups on the novel:

Marketing Copy

Spellbound: Dawn of Destiny by Angela Baker

Sentence Description

Formidable and telling, this fantasy blends romance with an erstwhile sense of justice, truth, and empowerment.

Short Description

Written for young adults, Spellbound: Dawn of Destiny is a timeless tale of fantasy and romance. With a tremendous sense of hope and an adventurous spirit this epic debut teaches readers to keep their minds open and their hearts pure. Author Angela Baker creates a world where all is not as it seems and where help may come from the most unexpected places.

Full Description

Bold and breathtaking, newcomer Angela Baker introduces a world where all power must come from within. First in a series, Spellbound: Dawn of Destiny is a wildly original introduction to a land where magic collides with power in the never-ending battle that pits good against evil.

With a restless soul, Aurora Phoenix is a young woman on a mission. Along with five others, she is a Chosen One, said by her people to be born when the world needs them. Part warrior, part protector the group must learn to hone their special skills to ultimately save the kingdom against warring marauders.

Back Cover Text

"You must read this book!"

--Jessica Segaard

"It's so much like real life, yet like nothing you will ever experience. It's been a real joy to read."

-- Katherine Foot

"There's no way of knowing what life may throw at you. This book helps us to remember that no matter how hard life may be, you're never alone in your struggles. It is definitely a must read."

-- Jacquelyn Farrell

First in the Spellbound series, Dawn of Destiny is a wildly original debut. With the grace of a timeless epic, newcomer Angela Baker weaves a tale where false hope and impure hearts mean sure destruction. Among a magical and endangered tribe, six stand out as Chosen Ones and all roads lead to their success if only they can harness their power and their hearts. Aurora Phoenix, their intrepid, though at times daunted leader must reconcile haunting visions with her dreamy innocence to fight for her clan's survival.

Author Bio

Always with a passion for writing, Michigan native Angela Baker met and married the love of her life. They have two beautiful daughters and currently live in Washington. This is her first book. To learn more about the series, go to www.myspace.com/spellboundseries.

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*does happy dance* Yes.. I have much reason to be happy XDD

*hugs all very excitedly*

For this I am truly sorry.  Things have been hectic and i have been putting most of my updates on my MySpace page.  I have been adding updated to my Deviant Art page as well.

 

I will try to break it down.  Right now Eric is deployed.  It isn't for long and it's right here in the states.  It is some kind of a deployment training exercise.  This gives me a little more time to get more writing done with fewer breaks except for to make sure the girls are taken care of.  I am pressing the wroting because I have officially signed with a publishing company called BookSurge that will market my novel worldwide via online stores.  It will be available on Borders.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Waldensbook.com, Amazon.com - amoung many other places.

 

I am very excited about this and can't wait.  But I still have 5 more chapters left to write out before the manuscript is complete and ready for editing.  With Eric gone, I can get at least half if not all the chapters written, I am sure.  I am going to try to.

 

I am now also an Aunt.  My sister-in-law had her first child, a little boy on February 1st of this year.  She and her husband are overjoyed and very happy with this.  I have seen pictures, he is adorable ^_^

 

The girls are doing very well in school- Chenoa even got a certificate for perfect attendance.  Sierra should have, but due to an office error, she missed her first day of school.  I am not happy with it, and she won't be either when sisy comes home with somethingshe didn't get, but this will be the first of many things that happen like this.

 

Pretty much if you want to know more about the goings ons in the Baker life, I will try to keep this updated, but if it isn't, please feel free to check out my MySpace blogs for all the current information.

Well.. I am firstly wanting to apologize to anyone who has been trying to get ahold of me lately.  I know I have been a hard person to reach. 

Things have been hard at home and slowly they are getting better.  There is still a long way to go before things are comfortable again though.  As for missing my friends in the morning... Sometimes after I got offline last night, I got really sick.  My stomach churned all night and I didn't sleep very well.  My alarm got me up like it was supposed to, I reset it for another 30 minutes of sleep, but I don't remmember it even going off the 2nd time.  I am sorry I missed you Blue.  But I am feeling better now so hopefully I will be around tomorrow morning.

 

News on the the book-

 

Spellbound, Book 1- Dawn of Destiny, is half way written.  It is coming along a little easier now as the plot has suddenly exploded and opened up for me.  I have an agent through my publishing company who is working close with me to answer any questions and make sure I know what all is ncluded in the process.  I do have an editor I have been working close with.  She has recently relocated to another state so until she gets settled, I'm kind of on my own lol.  In the meantime...

 

There have been computer issues that are forcing us to reformat.  Thus me not being able to do things like I used to.  My Microsoft Word program hasn't been working like it should be so I am looking forward to seeing it finally reformatted and getting the programs working as they should once more.  Though with a lack of money, it could take until the 15th for this to happen... a small fact that is ticking me off because eric wasn't willing to make the same sacrifices I was with files I had on the computer.  It's a small setback, but I am pushing for it to be done before the end of November so I can really hit this novel hard. 

 

A cover pic has been chosen for the novel and I am looking forward to seeing what it will look like on the final product.  The cover pic features the main pairing of the novel, Adair Hart- one of 2 crowned princes of Eudora and Aurora Phoenix, the heir to the Cerean clan and leader of the Chosen Ones .  While working on this though I have realized that there is another pairing that should be on that cover.  Adair's brother, Adam and Aurora's friend, Sapphira Raine.  I would ask the artist who did the cover pic if she would attempt the look for the 2 but I already have asked so much of her.  Since I have a couple of months though... maybe... I will discuss it with her and see what I can come up with.

 

Well.. that is about it for now.  I will try to update this more often as my deadline approaches.

 

Again, Sorry I missed you Blue!  I do hope things are going okay for you! *hugs*  

Well, not much going on here.  Eric has been wrking on his truck, the girls are in school and enjoying every minute of it and I am plugging along on the novel.  I have revamped the first few chapters and have continued on to at least get the general outline of it completely written.  I figure after I have the general parts written I can go in and add the rest of the details to it later.  I have also been thinking about publishing a book of poetry as well.  Nothing big, just something small to keep my name out there and known. 

Speaking of Poetry, I have entered one of my poems into a contest.  I figured why not?  I don't lose anything by it.  If I place, I gain a little extra money which could be very well needed. 

I find it odd I did that though.  I don't normally enter contests like that.  But instead of moving past the page and skipping ahead to the site I was originally looking at, I stopped.  I looked over everything.  Something told me to do it.  So I pulled up another internet screen to search through the poems I had.  I found only one that I really liked that fit the criteria for the contest.  I closed my eyes to ask myself if I was sure I wanted to do this and felt no hesitation after that.  It is kind of odd to explain actually.  But at least I am trying it.  

 

One never knows what can happen if they never try.

Wish me luck ^_^  

Since I have been here to update- There have been a lot of changes going on- some of which I am not about to discuss publicly.  All I will say for those who know is that seems seem to be getting better and are on a decent path at the moment.

 

I have taken a job babysitting for a woman here on base.  She has a 2 year old and an 8 year old that I watch for while she attends her college classes.  Not a long job, just a couple of hours periodically throughout the week.  The pay will be nice to- I have plans to save as much of it as possible... just in case things change again. 

 

I am still proceeding with my novel.  Though unfortunately due to the latest developements in my life, I may have to push back publication dates.  Should that change, I will definitely let you know.  Still I am keeping a positive frame of mind- at least trying to anyway. 

 

As for now- it is late and I am getting tired.  So I am off for the night.  Like I said... I will let you all know when things come up one way or another.  Take care!  Love you all!

 

Angel

That's right, folks!  My mom finaly told me the news.  Her wedding date is set for September 9th, 2006.  It's been a long time coming and I am glad they have found the happiness they have.  My brother loves the idea. 

They are going with a Native American Indian theme so my mom is making an Indian Cermonial Dress that she can wear. 

Sadly, I can't be there, but I do send my love to them and wish them the best.  Congratulations and good luck you guys!!

 

As an added note, I want to send my Grandma Bader happy birthday wishes today as well ^_^ Hope it is a good one!

 

 

 

 

 

This is just to let everyone know that I most likely won't be online much tomorrow.  Eric comes home at 7pm and I need to finish getting things back in order around her.  I played a bit more than I probably should have, but at least I got done most of what I wanted to get done.  I got a few chapters written on my novel, on the fanfiction,did some layouts I had been wanting to get done, lounged, and did what I could to relax considering the way this summer has been.  But now is the time to get serious. 

 

I will be on in the morning as usual *is reminded to get VCR set for YGO in the morning*, but after 9 am, I most likely won't be on.  I will try to pop on in the afternoon because I know after 7 I won't be able to be on.  This also means that from tomorrow until he leaves for deployment in August/September, I won't be on at all in the evenings again. 

 

Sorry for those I have been missing, but there is always email, LJ, and MySpace to keep up with me.  Take care guys and I'll be seeing you all around!

There was a time I kept all my writing to myself.. I was afriad to let others see it. But now I have little things posted all over the place. Graphics too. I was never a fan of the things I could do. Maybe it was just because I didn't feel I took the time needed to get things done. But here I am, posting graphics and poems, and prose up on Deviant Art of all different types. Even so far as written works deserving of the mature label... which is a shock for me. I never ever thought I would post those kinds of works up for others to see. I guess you can say I was kind of portraying an innocent quality to me that in truth really doesn't exist like so many friends/family have thought for so long.

But now I have gone and done even more... some of the mature work up on DA has a more unedited version to it as DA has it's limits. I had been sitting on an AFF.net account for about a year now without using it...

Until today.

Yup, I finally posted one up there. It's not heavily graphic Has only what is considered a Lime scene, but still... It isn't something I thought I would do.

The following is random RP chatter not really important to anyone but myself and maybe those involved- feel free to skip down to the next row of "flowers"

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I keep getting strange feelings about this RP (And when I talk about this from here on out, I will be using the names the characters take in the novel)... I know that over time things can happen to people... but this pulling feeling about it keeps growing more and more. It's getting harder and harder to know what's going on. I know my characters are being targeted for pain and betrayal even when I don't set them up for it. I have made attempts actually to avoid pain now just to see what would happen. People I thought were happily settled apparently were not.

Angel and Ori, a pairing I have always loved. That warm and fuzzy kind of pairing. He was everything she wanted and loved. He was the kind of guy she wanted to keep in her life. They made a beautiful family, and still made time for each other. He never left her side, was protective of her... sure a bit possessive, but what guy wouldn't be when he has a beautiful and seemingly innocent wife by his side. But now it almost seems he is being like any OTHER typical man. He is drifting... his mind wandering... To his sister in law Sanura. His brother's wife. Every time Angel leaves the room, he is calling Sanura up and trying to come up with excuses to see her. Drunk one night, he admitted he was curious of the things her husband had said about her "style"

Now... AFG, Blue... I know you would understand this more if you are reading this, but doesn't that sound more like Orifiel instead of Ori?

Zahara and Blake couldn't be stronger.  If there was ever a pairing that actually worked out right, THAT one was it. Even through her indescretions, he loved her enough to put everything back and try again...

Sanura and Gabriel... are better... very hard to deal with at first but are actually tolerable now. They seem... happy for once. Still Gabriel wanders too...

Orifiel and Kalista... Not really the best pairing in the world... but still...

You know... I was beginning to wonder what would happen if we set some kind of time bomb on the sidelines at least... not the main RP... but the sidelines. Send it all back to the very beginning. Well... just after Adam and Adair had been separated and their country destroyed. Back to when Adam first met Kiada. When Aurora and Adair were looking for their missing daughter Sanura and came across Aurora's future charge, Angel, while Angel, Ori/Orifiel, and Kiza were all still in school together, While Sanura was still known as the Black Rose Assassin, while Aiden was still alive... you know... just to get a better feel for what they were all like BEFORE all this... To see their true personalities and how they all came to be.

Of course this would mean that Blake, Adam, and Adair would be enemies again... Gabriel would have to face Oriana and come face to face with whatever made the rumors begin regarding him and Malcolm...  His Man-whore and murderous days.  The Blake/Zahara story would begin all over again, and who knows how things would turn out. Maybe I could learn just what was behind the whole "create an army of kids to destroy the former king and his brother" plot... This would also mean our characters wouldn't be interacting much... Angel and Kiza in school maybe, and of course run ins with the Chainers and Orifiel... I could see how Gabriel and Kiza managed to keep her pregnancy a secret and her have the child without Gabriel even knowing it as his.... It would mean reliving Kiza's death. Reliving Aiden's death, reliving Rose's birth within Sanura's body, reliving the birth and "death" of Sanura and Aiden's child, Elena. Bringing Theron back. Bringing Ryo, Rowen, and Sage back- that in itself would possibly clear up one mystery- why Rowen and Orifiel don't get along.  It was hinted during a class reunion, but never elaborated on.  Having the children Rayne, Riku, Sora, Kiara, Nakia, Cayden, Raven, Mason, Oriel, and Sachiel and all the others having to disappear for a little while.

Sure, I would like to do this... but I can't just DO this in a year long Role Play... not without consent and agreement from Blue and AFG. There would be a lot of times in this turn back of time that our characters just wouldn't even intereact...

Still... it would be interesting to see what would happen... And I am half tempted to bring the idea up to see what is thought of the idea... I guess one never knows until they try... maybe... Not like I'm changing the main thing... just the sidelines... Or maybe the main RP will become the sideline RP.... and the sideline once reversed could become the real thing...

Maybe I oughtta quit while I'm ahead... v.v

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Not sure why I feel so freaking depressed all of a sudden though... It's bugging me... I am thinking it's the heat.. it has me quite irritable during the day...

Nothing much going on here. Yesterday was more like any other day. It's been almost too hot to breathe let alone anything else. So needless to say, the laundry, though washed, has once again been left on the couch, not folded and not put away. I hate that I just haven't the energy to do what needs to get done. Yes, the whole "I hate summer" speech... I'll spare you. I'd give anything for fall right about now though.

The girls want to go outside in this... Maybe I'll just put my lawnchair under the sprinkler to cool off...

Maybe I'll get a bit more reading done... Maybe I can convince them to forget it so I can get more writing done.. still... that wouldn't be fair to them... So it's outside I go...

I'll be around later... With Eric due home in 3 days, I want to get in as much as I possibly can.. because time will be severely limited once again when he gets back... *sigh*

 

*side note*

RP blogs will be competely updated by the time I go to bed tonight... It's a goal I needed to set for myself as it's been way too long since the last update.

... well I don't know what it is, but it sure as hell isn't paradise...

Hot... too hot... Hate summer...

What's worse... The dog got loose because my daughter opened the back gate without my knowledge, so when I let him out for him to do his "thing", I turned to toss the girls in a cool bathtub to cool off from the heat and he dashed out into the neighborhood...

Took like 20 minutes to find him. We got lucky when someone about 5 blocks over was headed our way with him.

Ra that dog is more trouble than he's worth... He's ERIC'S dog.... HE is supposed to be dealing with him. I never WANTED the dumb animal in the first place. I knew Eric was going to be going for TDY (temp duty) elsewhere and would soon be deploying out for 4-6 months... The last thing I wanted was to care for a dog I didn't want. We don't need him, he doesn't really do anything. I just want to get rid of him. But of course I can't do that.

So now I try to sit in the non-airconditioned house, With ceiling fans going and one stand-alone fan, trying my hardest to cool off, without much luck...

Got groceries, got a couple of things for the computer that I had been wanting/needing for added comfort, got Romeo and Juliet the movie, and Ever After. I figure Eric gets all his action and adventure... I want my classic/romantic stuff to watch when he isn't around...
Besides... it gives plot bunnies something to feed off on for the RP, my novel, and other things...

Speaking of the RP...

Got to RP today. Slow start.... and the plot bunnies are still coming in, but still...
I have a few new characters to introduce when the time is right... Should make for some interesting changes.... Could be good... could be bad.... could open up the eyes of a couple of characters as well... Never know until it happens...

Anyway... because of the crap going on today a few things I was supposed to be doing today unfortuantely got put on hold one more day... I am hoping to get started on them later when I am trying to get the girls to sleep tonight. If I don't conk out on my own...