Reading

I usually don't post rants or personal opinions because they are, well...personal. What happened to  make me break my own rule? Well, the other day I was poking around the net and stumbled upon a comment.


I don't know if the person was a writer or an avid reader or perhaps both. This indiviual's main complain was to the effect he/she was reading a book and had to put it down a couple of times to look up a word. He/she went on to say why doesn't the writer used the most common word??


Sorry for the inconvenience dear reader. Sometimes the use of the less common word is necessary and dare I say essential to the plot. Writers should encourage discovery and wonder. Readers should have the thirst for knowledge. To read something just because it's what everyone's reading, or what the media is telling you is "in" is just absurd.


A writer shouldn't compromise the integrity of his/her writting just because it inconvenience someone. What happened to reading and learning something new? What happened to prose for the sake of it? Granted, I love reading fast paced action books. There are times, however I want to get lost in rich narrative, the poetic language that elevates my soul.


When I was in the fifth grade a teacher gave me a book to read. It was hard for me because the book was meant for high school level (The Time Machine). Another challenge, the book was in English. I should clarify I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. My first language is Spanish, although English is taught in schools not everyone cares to learn beyond the basics.


So, book in hand I went home and started reading. It took me around two weeks to finsih because of all things I had to put the book down several times per page to look up a word. By the end of the school year I was reading English at a high school level. I had also discovered Poe, Shelly, Asimov, J.R. Tolkien, etc...that was years ago in the mid 70's. I didn't had google search or an electronic pad which allows you to look up a word instantly.


To complain about "having to put the book down" is so preprosterous I had no choice but to speak up. Do me a favor whoever you are complainer, keep it to yourself. Don't take the joy of reading and discovering form those of us who relish it.


As a writer, I hope my readers keep an open mind and embrace the challenge of a new word. Oral expression is been stiffled and compressed by the media. The ROFLMA, ROFLMB, IDK, OMG, WTH, WTF, IMHO have a place in modern times, but keep in mind the art of conversation is a dying art. Don't let the art of reading and writing go the same way.


TTFN, LOL.

Protectorate Wars Book 2: Gigi

I'm happy to announce that I got a release date for book 2 in the Protectorate Wars series. Gigi will be release on April 18th. If you haven't read book 1: Amada now is the time to head over Amazon, Barns and Noble, Smashwords, Allromance and Forever More Publishing. For all of you who started this journey with me, I hope you stay a bit longer.


All my love

Another book comes to an end. Protectorate Wars Book 2: Gigi is done and submitted to my publisher. I got the contract today, Yeay! This whole week's been so weird like I'm missing something in my life. I think I felt the loss of Briq hardest because he is my favorite character. Briq is strong, a killer without a conscience, a brave warrior with an extraordinary sense of honor. For those of you who read #Protectoratewars Book 1 thanks. I hope you enjoy book 2 as much as I love writting it. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. I hope you're willing to take this journey with me because there's more to come. If you like science fiction with smart diaglog, a dash of smut, and tons of aliens give it a try. I promise adventure, dashing warriors, damsels that can get themselves out of distress, but still appreciate a big guy. If you appreciate good imagination, then turn on your e-reader and search of the Protectorate Wars Book 1. I you read it and enjoyed it, read it again and refresh your memory. Thank you again for leaving a comment and rating the book on the differnt sites, even the bad ones. Just be a bit more considerate, writers are people too. Thank  you and TTFN!!!

Final read-out

I'm currently doing my final read-out on Protectorate Wars Book 2: Gigi. So far so good. I'm honing my craft and growing as a writer. I hope you take the journey with me! In the mean time check out my fan art!! You can follow me on twitter, facebook, wix and pinterest. If you read book 1 I would really appreciate any comment on the site you purchased it. Ratings are a must for a writer...like blood to vampires...keeps us alive!!

Fan art

My new profile pic is fan art by Josue Rodriguez based on Amada. I love the way this pic captures Amada's fierce spirit, Zaaq-niq is fab in his uniform. Of course you can't forget the critter that brought them together...Zu'thro!!!!


Josue and I are considering teaming up in the future for a graphic novel based on the Protectorate Wars. What do you think?

WELCOME 2014

Happy 2014, my wish for all of you is happiness and health because without these two nothing else matters. Wealth is just the value you subjectively place on things. Things are just material stuff that as time passes by lose their meaning. I always remember one of the lines in the movie Ghost when he is walking towards the light, something in the lines of the love that you feel you take it with you. So go ahead, love unconditionally...laugh often at yourself...be kind just for the heck of it...start something new...and for heaven's sakes....LIVE!!!!

Working on Gigi's grand finale...

I must confess that this book has given me some grief. Just when I think I have the grasp of the story and the characters, they gang up on me and tell me otherwise. There are a lot of revelations in this book, but also a lot of unanswered questions. I've mapped out the series in my head and journals, but my husband suggested I find some sort of program to help me keep things straight. I'm old fashion and I still enjoy my handwritten entries. Because the story is getting out of my hands I need to map out the events and characters (like a timeline) in detail. I think I'm going to create a little spreadsheet on excel to help me keep everyone straight. For example name, physical description, relation to other characters, personality, etc.

I'm very OCD (seriously I am) and can't function in chaos, I think this excel chart will serve me well in all my future projects. I've looke around but what's out there is not for me. My advice to any writer or aspiring writer out there is to keep things simple and organized. I wished I thought of all this when I was writing my first book Protectorate Wars Amada Book 1.

My plan is to spend a couple of hours here and there perfecting my chart. I know once the basic one is done it can be forever improved, but at least I'll have something visualy to work with. Believe me the amount of work I have spread around in my many journals will benefit from this. I have at least three more series I'm working on but don't have the time to rummage through my writings. I will keep you posted on the progress and I'm willing to help anyone that needs a little boost.

Well, this is it for now...I'll try to post some delectable excerpt from Gigi today or tomorrow. Till then this is Nena signing out...Adios, bye, chiao, aloha, auf, aurevoir...