Again, thanks for understanding.

I had some stuff to say and so I just decided to share it. Some stuff that annoyed me, some awesome thoughts about the next book, and something I realized lately. Enjoy!

I’m over at ACX narrating. If you want me for your book just search for Kimiko Alexandre or hit me up and let me know. I’m very reasonable.

I’ve also got the book done. It’s in editing now and will soon need beta readers. I would love to have some volunteers to be the first to peek inside the book and tell me what you think. Simply let me know and I”ll put you on my list!

I’m on my hands and knees for you to answer the questions at the end. Skip to them if you have to….just please answer them. Oh and for those I mentioned – you are mentioned somewhere….listen to the whole thing to find where I mention you. Your link is here  – tada

• JR Murdock – amazon page
• Brian Rathbone – amazon page
• Rayne Hall – amazon page
• Marcy Kennedy – amazon page
• Starla Huchton – amazon page  Starla’s Design Page

Anyway, I have an update podcast coming. Should be up today or tomorrow. It will let you know what’s been going on, where I’m at and where I’m going. And I think you are going to like where I”m going.

For a taste of the cast: there are great podcasts to be put up, there’s work happening with Guardians, and there is a very cool new project I’m working on that will help you if you get like me when I’m stuck on a particular writing issue.

Thanks for all your patience. Don’t be afraid to let me know if you read AND listen to the podcast. It will help me know if updating you occasionally in written form does any good.

Oh…and since February is the month of love….I love and appreciate all of you who come here! Thank you for the support, the kicks in the butt, and the interests we share!

Enjoy

Feel free to email, leave a comment, or call in with other questions.

However, all the files now link to my own server so that problem is no longer an issue. If you need to redownload them simply scroll down and click on the episodes to get the full and clean sounding audio.

I have a podcast in mind that I will be doing soon about the genre of Urban Fantasy and some good examples of books in that category. I also have an interview lined up with the Editor of MindTweaks and author Heidi Ruby Miller. I appreicate your patience as I’ve been going through the growing pains of learning to podcast. I’ve also gotten the podcast bug and I’m doing 2 others now so forgive me as I bury myself under work.

This is high on my list of things to do along with writing.

4. Do you prefer writing in first person or third?
Most definately first person. I will write in third now and then but first is so much easier and gives so much more personality to me.
5. Do you listen to music while you write?
No but I want to. Creating a playlist has “procastination” written all over it though.
6. How do you come up with the perfect names for your characters?
That’s hard. I try and find a name that fits the personality of the character. Sometimes she just doesn’t look like an Ashley. Stereotyping…I know.
7. When you’re writing, do you ever imagine your story as a television show or movie?
No but that may be a good way to figure out what’s going next!
8. Have you ever had a character insist on doing something you really didn’t want him/her to do?
Insist is a strong word. They often surprise me though.
9. Do you know how a story is going to end when you start it?
Sometimes…not always.
10. Where do you write?
Usually at my desk in my office.
11. What do you do when you get writer’s block?
Stare at the screen and sigh. Then go do sometimes else. Sometimes I think I should battle through it.
12. What size increments do you write in (either in terms of word count, or as a percentage of the fic as a whole)?
I just try to write as much as I can but I generally look at word count vs page count.
13. How many different drafts did you write for your last project?
Hmmm…the short story…probably 2. But I edit as I go.
14. Have you ever changed a character’s name midway through a draft?
No generally I know within a few pages it’s wrong.

15. Do you let anyone read your story while you’re working on it, or do you wait until you’ve completed a draft before letting someone else see it?
I generally put it out there for people to read but most the time no one really gets back to me unless I make them sit down and actually look at me and tell me. That’s kind of annoying.
16. What do you do to celebrate when you finish a draft?
Honestly…and sadly…I don’t have much experience with that. But I think I’ll treat myself to a spa day when I complete my first draft of my book.
17. One project at a time, or multiple projects at once?
Multiple ideas at once. Right now it’s once project at a time. That may change.
18. Do your stories grow or shrink in revision?
They balance out. I usually find a better way to say it and sometimes explain it better. It all works out in the end.
19. Do you have any writing or critique partners?
I have a new partner from my RWA NYC group but we’ve only just started. Always looking for beta testers.
20. Do you prefer drafting or revising?
Editing as I go. So I guess revising!

What are your answers. Leave them in the comment section and lets compare.

The temptation is to edit out all the “ums”, silence breaks, and mis-steps in my speaking. But one person told me that even with those things in there that the casts are good and that it makes it much more personalized. That I shouldn’t edit it that much. So…I’m asking you all to take my poll and tell me what you think. You can also leave a comment on this post with your suggestions/opinions! Please help me out and answer.

Take my poll here!

Now get to writing…I’m going to the Sci-fi/Dark Fantasy writers meeting in Phily tomorrow so I’ll be writing too!