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# Stephanie A. Cain

Snarky, independent women, queer characters, and found families on irreverent but hopeful journeys through vividly-drawn magical worlds

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://stephaniecainonline.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://stephaniecainonline.com/blog/)
- [Cover Reveal: The Banshee by the Bridge](https://stephaniecainonline.com/cover-reveal-the-banshee-by-the-bridge/) - We're less than a month away from The Banshee by the Bridge's launch, and I have another beautiful cover to share with you! Sonya at B6 Design Studio has done yet another fantastic job at portraying Morrigan and Dragon! Isn't it gorgeous! I just love working with Sonya and I'm so excited to share this
- [Book Rec: Never Worry About Money Again](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-never-worry-about-money-again/) - Never Worry About Money Again: By Answering One Question By Jesse Mecham Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book on Netgalley. I've been using YNAB software for years now, but my use has honestly been mostly as a glorified check register. I never delved much into the various features of the software. While
- [Cover Reveal: A Wailing on Walnut Street](https://stephaniecainonline.com/cover-reveal-a-wailing-on-walnut-street/) - On June 17, 2026, A Wailing on Walnut Street will be available in ebook and print format! The Morrigan McBride Mysteries have already had a soft launch into the world over at my Substack, but now you'll be able to add a physical book to your shelf! Isn't the cover beautiful? This cover is by Sonya
- [Saying Goodbye](https://stephaniecainonline.com/saying-goodbye/) - Some of this post is duplicated from a post at my Morrigan McBride Substack, but it's been almost a month since I posted that, and I have a few more thoughts as time goes on. On December 18, 2025, I had to say goodbye to my soul cat, Eustace Clarence Scrubb. I don’t exaggerate when
- [Giftmas 2025: Human Connection](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-2025-human-connection/) - Every year I participate in Rhonda Parrish's Giftmas fundraiser, which she organizes to help people who need a little help at this time of year. This year we're once again supporting Edmonton's Food Bank. Our goal this year is $1,500 which, because the Food Bank harnesses the power of connections and bulk buying will equal
- [Introducing Morrigan McBride](https://stephaniecainonline.com/introducing-morrigan-mcbride/) - I’m in the middle of the last book of my epic fantasy Storms in Amethir series, and… I’m stuck. There’s a lot going on in this book, and a lot of story threads to tie up and character arcs to complete. I’ve been stalled for a couple of months. I need something fun and lower
- [How HB90 Changed My Writing Summer](https://stephaniecainonline.com/how-hb90-changed-my-writing-summer/) - HB90 Bootcamp helped me get Shroudling into your hands, and it's helping me meet my writing goals and business goals. I can't recommend it enough.
- [Cover Reveal - Witchery's End](https://stephaniecainonline.com/cover-reveal-witcherys-end/) - I'm finally here to share the cover of Witchery's End! The art is again by the amazing Nicole Cardiff. It features Azmei, Prince Vistaren, and Count Kedar Ebb.
- [A Life of Research: Phyllis Waye Boone](https://stephaniecainonline.com/a-life-of-research-phyllis-waye-boone/) - Talk given at the Montgomery County Genealogical Society about the research & writing of New Richmond: A History of the Best Little Town in Indiana.
- [Dive into Your Next Fantasy Beach Reads Adventure! ](https://stephaniecainonline.com/dive-into-fantasy-beach-reads/) - Explore a handpicked selection of fantasy beach reads, brimming with mermaids, selkies, sea witches, aquatic magic, and thrilling seafaring adventures.
- [My 2025 Stationery Resolutions](https://stephaniecainonline.com/my-2025-stationery-resolutions/) - "She owns way more movie scores & fountain pens than she can actually afford" and she is making resolutions to use & enjoy her stationery collection in 2025.
- [Storms in Amethir has changed!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/storms-in-amethir-has-changed/) - Storms in Amethir has a new Book One--A Song of Storm and Shadow combines Stormsinger and Stormshadow with 12,000 new words and scenes written for the omnibus.
- [Hope and Positivity](https://stephaniecainonline.com/hope-and-positivity/) - I've written about hopeful fantasy before. Hope is something that matters to me, but I never thought I was overly endowed with positivity. As it turns out, I was kinda wrong. Positivity as a Strength I recently finished Becca Syme's Strengths for Writers course (yes, I know this blog has been full-on Becca Syme fangirl
- [Coming Out of the Pandemic Drought](https://stephaniecainonline.com/coming-out-of-the-pandemic-drought/) - I know a lot of creative people, and it's definitely been an interesting couple of years for us. A lot of creatives found themselves inspired to work harder throughout the pandemic years. I also know several--including me--who experienced a sort of creative drought during the pandemic. Health During a Pandemic This was exacerbated, at least
- [Coming Unstuck](https://stephaniecainonline.com/coming-unstuck/) - I don't think it's any secret that I've been stuck in the middle of the next two Amethir books. I know I've kept people waiting, and it hasn't been fun on my end either, believe me! I've been listening to the audiobook of Becca Syme's The Author Stuck List (not an affiliate link) and that,
- [How my yoga practice influenced Shroudling](https://stephaniecainonline.com/how-my-yoga-practice-influenced-shroudling/) - I started doing yoga in late January, and I love it. It's had a big impact on my flexibility and mental health, and I haven't had much trouble with my sciatica in the time I've been practicing. What I didn't expect was that it would impact how I wrote Shroudling. Yoga and mindfulness I chose
- [Shroudling releases today!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/shroudling-releases-today/) - Today's the day! I'm so excited to finally share Shroudling with you all! The uphill battle to a novel It's been a long, uphill battle, plagued with lots of false starts, running out of gas, getting stuck, trying to get unstuck, spinning my wheels a lot, and finally, finally finishing a draft that I didn't think
- [Shroudling is now available for preorder!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/shroudling-is-now-available-for-preorder/) - Well, it's been a long time coming, but I'm excited to announce that Shroudling, Storms in Amethir Book 5, is now available for preorder! Getting Shroudling Ready to Go Earlier this year, I started working with a new editor, Grace, and at the beginning of July, I got her edits back. After working through those, I
- [Giftmas 2023: Winter Light](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-2023-winter-light/) - It's become an annual December tradition here to participate in Rhonda Parrish's Giftmas fundraiser for Edmonton's Food Bank. Having been both a beneficiary of and a volunteer for food-related nonprofits, food insecurity is something I care deeply about. Also, I like to eat. Doesn't everyone? NB: As part of Giftmas 2023, Rhonda has co-written with
- [The Lamplighter - Lisa Carreiro Guest Post](https://stephaniecainonline.com/the-lamplighter-lisa-carreiro-guest-post/) - Today I'm lending my blog to Rhonda Parrish and Lisa Carreiro to help spread the word about Saltwater Sorrows, Rhonda's latest anthology release. Saltwater Sorrows Deep, mysterious, beautiful... dangerous... Women and the sea have been tied together in myth and story from the beginning of time. Tales of women being drawn to the sea or being
- [I Was Wrong About Writer's Block](https://stephaniecainonline.com/i-was-wrong-about-writers-block/) - I Was Wrong About Writer's Block File Under: Eating My Words; see also Humble Pie Around this day in 2016 I said Writer's Block is Bullshit. Bold words, yes, and I believed them at the time. I don't believe them anymore. Early in 2016 I had never experienced true writer's block or burnout. I was
- [Circle City Magic Anthology](https://stephaniecainonline.com/circle-city-magic-anthology/) - Writing has been tough for me for a couple of years. I'm one of those writers who had a horrible time putting pen to paper during the pandemic. Although NaNoWriMo 2022 helped, I didn't really rebound from stuckness until I made a day-job career change earlier this year. But I am now unstuck! And I've
- [Post-NaNoWriMo Update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/post-nanowrimo-update/) - I won NaNoWriMo 2022 in the pre-dawn hours of November 30. I got up early to write because I knew I had time commitments after work and I really wanted to win. I have nothing like a novel, but I finished with 51,670 words I didn't have before, plus two characters I adore, several I
- [Giftmas 2022: Light in the Darkness](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-2022-light-in-the-darkness/) - It's December again, and it seems like in modern western culture that means stress. Stress about time commitments, family commitments or lack thereof, present-buying, present-wrapping, crowd-fighting, traffic backups... The list goes on and on. It's all too easy for me to succumb to the stress of the season--until I remind myself that there are people
- [NaNoWriMo 2022](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2022/) - There's been a lot of silence over here, hasn't there? I was in a huge slump, so I decided at the last minute to do NaNoWriMo this year--with a completely different project and absolutely no outline. It was definitely a good decision! I've written 8 days in a row and I have 14, 746 words,
- [Giftmas 2021 The Story Continues](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-2021-the-story-continues/) - Every year I have the privilege of participating in Rhonda Parrish's #Giftmas Blog Tour. A bunch of us get together virtually to raise support for Edmonton's Food Bank. The food bank has the power of bulk purchasing at their behest, which means they can supply 3 meals with every dollar donated--and on top of that,
- [G is for Ghosts Release Day](https://stephaniecainonline.com/g-is-for-ghosts-release-day/) - I know it's been very quiet here. I haven't been doing a lot of writing over the past couple of years. But today I'm posting because I have a story in an anthology that releases today! G is for Ghosts is the most recent installation in Rhonda Parrish's Alphabet Anthologies series, and my story "A"
- [G is for Ghosts Cover Reveal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/g-is-for-ghosts-cover-reveal/) - I'm very excited to be able to announce a new Circle City Magic story forthcoming! My story, "A," is the opening story for Rhonda Parrish's latest anthology, G is for Ghosts. G is for Ghosts will be available October 5, 2021. You can preorder it now! A teenage girl’s classmates begin disappearing only to haunt her
- [Connections - A #Giftmas2020 Blog](https://stephaniecainonline.com/connections-a-giftmas2020-blog/) - How embarrassing to see that I haven't blogged here since last year's Giftmas! And yet, 2020 has been that sort of year, hasn't it? #Giftmas2020 in a Time of COVID I've had a relatively pleasant 2020, compared to a lot of people. I didn't lose my job during COVID, and I was able to work
- [It's Dangerous to go Alone: Resources for Indie Authors](https://stephaniecainonline.com/its-dangerous-to-go-alone-resources-for-indie-authors/) - If you'd asked me a few years ago, I would tell you I wasn't really interested in self-publishing. In my mind, it still lacked the cachet of traditional publishing, despite the way e-readers and CreateSpace have been revolutionizing the world of self-publishing. I'd seen a lot of crap that was self-published. So have you. Sure,
- [Self-Pub 101: Live Events for Indie Authors](https://stephaniecainonline.com/live-events-indie-authors/) - I know, I know, most writers are introverts, so you just looked at the title of this blog post and shuddered. But don't worry, live events don't have to be torture! In fact, live events have been, in my experience, very good days in terms of sales, and very good days in general. This may not hold true
- [Upcoming Author Fairs](https://stephaniecainonline.com/upcoming-author-fairs/) - Fort Wayne, Indiana Every year I'm fortunate enough to be invited to the Allen County Public Library's Author Fair in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I'll have a table set up where you can buy my books, talk with me about reading, and get free candy! I'll also be on a panel, as I have been for
- [Goodreads Giveaway: Shades of Circle City](https://stephaniecainonline.com/goodreads-giveaway-shades-circle-city/) - I'm doing a Goodreads giveaway of two signed copies of Shades of Circle City! Unfortunately, due to the cost of shipping, this is only open to people in the US and Canada. If you want a print copy of my book and haven't got one yet, enter the giveaway and see if you can win one! Be
- [First Friday Free Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/friday-free-fantasy/) - I've joined in a fun promo coming up this Friday! It's the First Friday Free Fantasy promo, and we've got over 65 authors giving away free fantasy! Some of the giveaways are entire novels, some are short stories, and some are partial novels. In my case, I'm giving away the first three chapters of my newest
- [Carmel Local Author Fair](https://stephaniecainonline.com/carmel-local-author-fair/) - Are you looking for reasonably priced, local gifts for this holiday season? You're sure to find the perfect gift for someone on your list (or yourself) at the CCPL 2016 Local Author Fair! Drop in any time between 1:00-4:00 p.m. to meet writers from our community and celebrate their talent. Writers of fiction and nonfiction
- [Come Sail Away: Researching a Seafaring Epic Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/come-sail-away-researching-seafaring-epic-fantasy/) - I was a double major in college. One of my majors was English--Creative Writing, which probably surprises no one. The other major was History. Not History Education, because I had no idea that was a thing until my senior year, by which time I was just good and ready to be out of college, thank
- [Giftmas 2019 is upon us!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-2019-is-upon-us/) - I'm so pleased to be participating in Giftmas 2019! This is an annual group fundraising effort coordinated by author/editor Rhonda Parrish. It's a cause that's close to my heart. No one should be hungry, especially at Christmas. I've participated since 2016, and you can read other blog posts using my Giftmas blog tag. (Last year included
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: WINNER](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-winner/) - EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- [WOOHOO 40K!!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/woohoo-40k/) - Still writing...
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 28](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-28/) - YAAAAAAY! I just officially caught up to where I'm supposed to be and even passed it! It's a good thing, because I had completely forgotten I made plans for November 30. Of course, there's still a good chance I'll skip those plans so I can finish the novel. I'm getting close to the end, but
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 7](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-7/) - Whew! Thanks to wordwars with microgirl8225, mingsmommy, kyrdwyn, cuspofqueens, and severity_softly, I was able to add a LOT of words tonight. I'm back above where I need to be to get my 50,000 in. I've been using 75k as my target, but if I went with 50k my graph would look more like this: Yesterday
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 4](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-4/) - My NaNo tip for the day: When in doubt, burn someone's house down. You learn all kinds of things about a character when their house is on fire. I am still feeling upbeat about this novel and loving these characters. But I really really need to learn that surfing LJ, watching Mean Kitty videos, and
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 1](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-1/) - I'm pretty happy. I did a lot of dicking around early in the evening, and this is after a 4:30 dental appointment that took forever (first cleaning in four years, but no cavities, hurrah!) and picking up windows at the hardware store. So I have the first two scenes written, and I'm not entirely sure
- [NaNo Day 5](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-5/) - A conversation with krycek_chick has me motivated and excited again. And I did manage a daily word count of 1458. I would write more, but I'm at the point where my eyelids are closing themselves.
- [Self-Pub 101: Online Resources for Indie Authors](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-publishing-101-online-resources-indie-authors/) - I read a lot of blogs. Fortunately a lot of those blogs are things I first stumbled on in the course of my day jobs (which involve lots of social media marketing), and I can still make a good case for reading them at work. I use Feedly to aggregate all my blog feeds into one
- [8 Great Online Sources to Research a Fantasy Novel](https://stephaniecainonline.com/8-great-online-sources-research-fantasy-novel/) - I have a Bachelor of Arts in History and Creative Writing. That BA in History taught me a lot about doing research and how to pick good sources. I've always had a love of research, from the time I was the kid who couldn't get her hands on enough books about horses, dinosaurs, and whales,
- [Help an Author Out](https://stephaniecainonline.com/help-author-out/) - This December I've been looking for ways to help people. I try to do that every December, but this December feels a lot different from the past several Decembers. I'm not really looking forward to 2017. After all, 2016 has been horrible: creative people dying, atrocities being committed, fascists rising to power, hate crimes increasing... What
- [Kickin' It Old School](https://stephaniecainonline.com/kickin-it-old-school/) - Chapter Three has refused to be written at the computer. I do a heck of a lot of composition while sitting at the keyboard. I used to write longhand a lot more than I do now, but apparently Chapter Three needed to be written longhand. I cleaned out my fountain pens, discovered I'd lost my
- [Merry Giftmas!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/merry-giftmas/) - Today marks the beginning of a week-long blog tour I'm participating in. The Giftmas Blog Tour is a bunch of people coming together to raise money for the Edmonton Food Bank in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I wanted to start Giftmas off by talking about food banks in general and why I'm passionate about them in particular.
- [Giftmas Tourtiere with Rhonda Parrish](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-tourtiere/) - A Guest Post by Rhonda Parrish For me, Christmas has always been about three things--food, family and presents :) In fact, my family celebrates a secular version of Christmas that we call Giftmas. Okay, mostly just I call it that, but I hold out hope that it will catch on eventually! A few years back
- [Christmas Roast and Other Traditions](https://stephaniecainonline.com/christmas-roast-other-traditions/) - No one in my immediate family likes turkey much. This wasn't always the case. As a child, I remember my grandmother making a turkey every year. She made the perfect dressing, too. There was always pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas. (I like pumpkin pie so much it is my birthday "cake" every year.) We had
- [Giftmas 2016 Comes to an End](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-2016-comes-end/) - It's been so much fun sharing my Christmas food stories with you and reading the food stories of other #Giftmas2016 bloggers. We had a great set of stories for Giftmas. Read them all! I wrote Merry Giftmas, Christmas Roast and Other Traditions, and Christmas Baking and Gingerbread Bloodshed. Rhonda Parrish wrote Giftmas Tourtiere, Beth Cato provided
- [Free Books at the Summer Solstice Fantasy Bookfest](https://stephaniecainonline.com/free-books-summer-solstice-fantasy-bookfest/) - I have a solstice gift of free books for you! After all, who doesn't love free books? Happy Solstice! I'm so glad summer is here! Maybe that means it will finally quit raining here in Indiana. I'm just about to give up on the idea of having a garden this year. We've had about 5 inches more
- [Self-Pub 101: E-book Pricing for Libraries](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-pub-101-e-book-pricing-for-libraries/) - Dear Self-Published Authors, do yourself a favor. Stop charging libraries so much for your e-books. Robin Bradford is someone I follow on Twitter, and she frequently Tweets her collection development work as a librarian in Washington state. Since I have Librarian IV certification in Indiana (I actually have 3/4 of a Masters of Library Science),
- [Novel revision update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/novel-revision-update/) - WC: 1,093 Scenes: >1 LOL! I'm finally really getting to the nitty-gritty of the novel revision. I've pretty much completed my line-by-line copy editing, and now I have some scenes to go back and fill in. I've got note cards for them all, I know where they go, I know what revisions I'll have to
- [F is for Fairy Available Now](https://stephaniecainonline.com/f-is-for-fairy-available-now/) - I'm excited--today is Release Day for F is for Fairy! "Anyone who believes that faeries are wee, golden-haired creatures with dragon-fly wings and sweet intentions has never met a real faerie.” –Suzanne Willis, “A Silver Thread Between Worlds” You may remember my last blog post (I know, shame on me) was the cover reveal for the
- [F is for Fairy Cover Reveal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/f-is-for-fairy-cover-reveal/) - I'm super excited to show you the cover for F is for Fairy, an Alphabet Anthology by Rhonda Parrish! I have a Circle City Magic story that will be appearing in this anthology, and I'm very excited to read all the other stories in the anthology. I think Rhonda does a great job of pulling her anthologies together, so
- [Self-Pub 101: Interview with Laura VanArendonk Baugh](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-pub-101-interview-laura-vanarendonk-baugh/) - Sorry it's been a while since I posted! The museum where I work has its most important annual fundraiser in late August, and I got sick two days before the fundraiser and spent the next two weeks recovering. Summer colds are the worst, especially if you get completely soaked and walk around in wet socks for
- [Stormseer Release Day](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormseer-release-day/) - So today is the day! Stormseer is available now! You can buy the e-book on Amazon, nook, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. Print books will be available soon from Amazon. Today I wanted to talk about some of the music I listened to while writing Stormseer. Before I go into details about playlists, I should explain that when
- [Small Business Saturday 2014](https://stephaniecainonline.com/small-business-saturday-2014/) - The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday, and I'm excited to be part of a great event in downtown Lafayette today! My friend Laura VanArendonk Baugh will also be participating, along with several other fantastic authors. Robots & Rogues is my favorite indie bookstore, and I'm sure they'll have something for everyone on your
- [October 9 Reading at Main Street Books in Lafayette](https://stephaniecainonline.com/october-reading-main-street-books-lafayette/) - I'm super excited about an event coming up next week! I'll be giving a reading and talk at Main Street Books in Lafayette, Indiana. This is different from some of the signings I've done in Lafayette before in that I'll actually be giving a short reading and talk beforehand, and then doing a Q &
- [November 14 Panel in Fort Wayne](https://stephaniecainonline.com/november-14-panel-fort-wayne/) - I had such a great time last year that I was very pleased to be invited back to the Allen County Public Library's annual Author Fair in November. If you live near Fort Wayne, come see me and lots of other great authors! WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 1 - 4 pm WHERE: Allen County Public
- [Circle City Magic Updates](https://stephaniecainonline.com/circle-city-magic-updates/) - I wanted to share a quick update with everyone on all things Circle City Magic related. E is for Evil First of all, E is for Evil releases on May 15, 2018, and is available for preorder now. My story, "C," features one of my favorite minor characters from Shades of Circle City. Werewolf Murphy O'Hare
- [E is for Evil Cover Reveal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/e-is-for-evil-cover-reveal/) - I have a fun announcement to make today--along with a cover reveal! Last fall I had the opportunity to fill a spot in an anthology edited by Rhonda Parrish, who also published my story in Equus. This time I was given a spot in her most recent Alphabet Anthology, E is for Evil. My story, "C is
- [Honorary Bookseller on Small Business Saturday](https://stephaniecainonline.com/honorary-bookseller-on-small-business-saturday/) - I'm going to be at Main Street Books in Lafayette this coming Saturday. It's Small Business Saturday, and you know what that means--support your local indie bookstore! Main Street Books is planning poetry readings, special deals, and door prizes, which pretty much guarantees a good time! I'm going to be acting as an honorary bookseller from
- [My No-Pants Plan for Self-Publishing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/no-pants-plan-self-publishing/) - This is the text of a presentation on self-publishing that I gave at the Allen County Public Library’s Author Fair yesterday. I’m posting this, complete with links, in the hopes it will be useful to writers who are beginning to research their publishing journey. Lots of you probably know that November is National Novel Writing
- [Self-Pub 101: Handmade Tales Panel at ACPL](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-pub-101-handmade-tales-acpl/) - The Allen County Public Library Author Fair Committee sent out links to panel videos last week, and since my fellow panelists Jennifer Foehner Wells and Kayleen Reusser had such great advice during their presentations, I want to share the whole video with you. We each talked for about ten minutes, and then we had a question
- [Calling All Non-Artists](https://stephaniecainonline.com/calling-all-non-artists/) - I know some very talented people who write and also draw or paint. Some of my favorite writers even write, draw, and sing (Maggie Stiefvater, I'm looking at you!). And some of them seem to only require about four hours of sleep per night. (Laura VanArendonk Baugh, I'm looking at you!) I'm not one of
- [Equus Character Deathmatch](https://stephaniecainonline.com/equus-character-deathmatch/) - So I might have mentioned a time or two lately that I've got a story in Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menageries anthology Equus. Starting today and running until the release date in July, we're doing a character deathmatch, pitting our characters against each other in a battle to the last equine standing. Let me introduce you to my
- [Magical Menageries #5: Equus is Now Available!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/magical-menageries-5-equus-now-available/) - Equus releases today! I love my story, "To Ride a Steel Horse," included in this anthology. On the face of it, you might think Demy is someone I don't have much in common with: she's a mathematician and a witch and bisexual, and I loathe math, can't do the first bit of magic, and am
- [Equus Table of Contents - Including Yours Truly!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/equus-table-contents/) - I have an exciting announcement to make today. I've been putting it off until things were finalized, but it's official as of today--I'm going to have a story in a forthcoming anthology called Equus! The stories are all about horses, unicorns, and other mythical horse-type creatures, and I'm thrilled by the group of people I'm
- [Interview with Stormseer Cover Artist Nicole Cardiff](https://stephaniecainonline.com/interview-with-stormseer-cover-artist-nicole-cardiff/) - In addition to being a fantastic artist and a professional, Nicole Cardiff is a fun and interesting person. I had a few questions I wanted to ask her about her process, which gave me an excuse to do an interview with her for the blog. So without further ado, here's my interview with Nicole Cardiff! Q:
- [Gift of the Werewolf](https://stephaniecainonline.com/gift-werewolf/) - Every year, in addition to DOING ALL THE THINGS editorial and writerly, Rhonda Parrish organizes a December blog tour to benefit Edmonton's Food Bank. This year we're doing an Advent theme, and twenty-four participants will each post one story during the next twenty-four days. The stories will mostly be hosted at the blogs of the
- [August--wait, September--update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/august-wait-september-update/) - Where did this summer go? I swear I just blinked and it was over! I'm working on the final book in the Storms in Amethir series, and I have ideas for the third book in the Circle City Magic book that are beginning to coalesce. I've been doing research in the form of sailing again,
- [Win the Ultimate Dresden Files Giveaway!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/win-the-ultimate-dresden-files-giveaway/) - Happy June from authors Russell Nohelty, RJ Blain, E.M. Whittaker, Sam Ferguson, Amy Cissell, Kris Austen Radcliffe, Demelza Carlton, Frank Martin, Russell Newquist, Devyn Jayse, Galen Surlak-Ramsey, Amir Lane, Robert Batten, Stephanie A. Cain, Rhonda Parrish, James Burton, Jason Franks, Owen Tyler, Caroline A. Gill, Natalie G. Owens, T.J. Loveless, Jade Kerrion, Jamie Thornton, Dani
- [Circle City Psychic Playlist](https://stephaniecainonline.com/circle-city-psychic-playlist/) - I always have a playlist for the books I write. Instrumental music for my epic fantasy books, but lots of lyrical songs for my urban fantasy. Some songs are shared across books in the same series, like "Werewolves of London" being a part of every Circle City Magic playlist I make. Some are theme songs
- [What I've Been Reading: April 2018](https://stephaniecainonline.com/what-ive-been-reading-april-2018/) - Back in January, I blogged about what I'd been reading lately. I wanted to post an update with some more books I've loved recently. I'm going back to February and March for some of these. Just to recap my reading goals for 2018, I want to read at least 50 books. Of those 50, 25
- [How I've Started Writing Every Day](https://stephaniecainonline.com/ive-started-writing-every-day/) - Everyone has seen the advice that writers should write every day. I've never believed that taking a day off here and there is as much of a sin as a lot writers seem to think. But then again, I've also never been as productive (or as published) as those writers who say you need to write
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 2](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-2/) - Not bad, but not great. I still made forward motion, and I definitely got a better handle on Jason and Martin, who are secondary characters to Chloe. I decided to keep the first person POV, because that really gives Chloe a lot of her voice. Plus it's sort of the convention for supernatural crime/paranormal/urban fantasy.
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 21](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-21/) - Broke the dreaded 30k today. I'm still 5,000 words behind, but that's okay. I wrote over 5,000 words today, so I can still catch up. LOL Dumped some frustration and angst on my min character today. Also a Stunning Revelation, and a moment of UST. Still having fun. I hope I have enoguh for another
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 27](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-27/) - Aka "Write, bitch! Write!" Managed to sneak in some writing at work today. Earned that "Secret Noveling" merit badge. Yippee. It's always strange to be writing about a minority culture that I'm not part of. I grew up with kids whose parents spoke only Spanish, so I'm not exactly writing in a void, but I'm
- [Stayed up all night...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stayed-up-all-night/) - ...but accomplished a lot. Whee!!! And I even killed a couple of people I hadn't expected to kill. Who knew how very noir this story was going to be? I also managed to scare myself while writing tonight. That was fun. *grin* As always, excerpt posted at theregent.
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 3](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-3/) - Managed my word count and Criminal Minds both. Introduced the love interest, who threw me a curveball plotwise. And now I really need to go to bed. I hope this is still funny.
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 17](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-17/) - WOOHOO!!! I have revised my graphs down to 50k instead of 75k, because I'm going to keep hoping for 75k but right now I just want to catch up with where I should be for 50. I made a lot of progress tonight! Just over 4300 words, and if I hadn't had Criminal Minds on
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 18](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-18/) - I officially crossed the halfway mark tonight. I know I'm still three days behind, but I think I can catch up by Sunday night at the latest. I hit some sad, heavy backstory stuff tonight as I wrote. I hope it wasn't too much infodump, but there hasn't been a great place to work the
- [NaNo Status](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-status/) - Yeah, the sticky post thing was screwing up my Semagic posting and stuff. It went away. Okay, Zokutou seems to be lettin' us down this year, so I'll use Writertopia as well:
- [LFG is a Fun Warcraft Related Romance](https://stephaniecainonline.com/lfg-fun-warcraft-related-romance/) - I just read a super-fun romance novel by Alexis Hall called Looking for Group. Get your mind out of the gutter--it's a World of Warcraft reference! This book might not be everyone's cup of tea, because large sections of it are written in the format of Guild Chat. For me, that was a large part
- [September Twitter Writing Challenge](https://stephaniecainonline.com/september-twitter-writing-challenge/) - I've written about the Monthly Twitter Writing Challenge before. It's an amazing community of writers that has grown up around YA author Kristy Acevedo's challenge to write 500 words or edit for 1 hour each day. People write in all genres, from memoir to historical to fantasy & science fiction. The positive energy and dedication to
- [POLL: Help Me Decide What to Write Next!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/poll-what-to-write-next/) - Revisions of Stormseer are chugging right along! I've heard back from one of my critique partners and am about to sit down and chat with another. I have a cover artist commissioned and have seen early line art of the cover. (SQUEE!) I'll be announcing a release date on my email newsletter soon. In the meantime,
- [Join My Advance Release Team!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/join-advance-release-team/) - I'm close to having a release date for Circle City Psychic! To celebrate, I'm setting up a mailing list for people who want to be part of the Cainiacs Advance Release Team. What does that mean? Essentially, if you're interested in helping me tell others about the next book, I'm willing to send you fun stuff.
- [God is in the Detail--Indianapolis Flavor via Research](https://stephaniecainonline.com/god-is-in-the-detail/) - One thing I absolutely love about writing urban fantasy is how many little details of life in the Indianapolis area I can squeeze in. (Another thing I love is how easy it is to research, compared to something set in a completely made-up secondary world!) I spent a lot of time scouting locations in Indianapolis
- [What I've Been Reading: January 2018](https://stephaniecainonline.com/ive-reading-january-2018/) - I set some specific reading goals for 2018. My #OwnVoices Reading Resolution didn't go quite as well as I had hoped in 2017, and I think a large reason is that I wasn't as deliberate as I should have been. I made a list of books I wanted to read, yes, but I didn't make
- [WIP Wednesday: Circle City Psychic](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wip-wednesday-circle-city-psychic/) - I have a little present for all my readers today--a WIP Wednesday from Circle City Psychic! This novel focuses mostly on Martin Cole, Chloe's brother, and Elliott Blake, Braxton's best friend. And because it's Valentine's Day, I decided to share a little snippet from early on when boy meets boy. There were some strange compromises
- [The Weather War giveaway](https://stephaniecainonline.com/weather-war-giveaway/) - I'm giving away 50 ebook copies of The Weather War! You can enter to win over at Goodreads. The contest runs through February 14. Check out the details at Goodreads! Goodreads Book Giveaway The Weather War by Stephanie A. Cain Giveaway ends February 14, 2018. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
- [Storms in Amethir Maps](https://stephaniecainonline.com/storms-amethir-maps/) - I recently had a Twitter conversation with Nat Russo and Jackson Dean Chase about Campaign Cartographer 3, which reminded me that I've been meaning to post maps of Amethir and other countries in my Storms in Amethir series. (I've been meaning to do that since Laura VanArendonk Baugh and I had a mapping work session almost a month
- [Choosing between epic and urban fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/choosing-between-epic-and-urban-fantasy/) - Angry Robot publishers has announced an Open Door reading period between April 16-30 this year. It's for unagented debut novelists, and they are only accepting YA or classic fantasy. My classic fantasy, which is still, arguably, my favorite novel, is languishing in overhaul purgatory. I believe with all my heart in the story, but I
- [Giftmas 2018: Shining a Light](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-2018-shining-light/) - The Light Defeats the Dark It's been decades since I first read A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, and I've been meaning to reread the whole series for some time now. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I was in need of a particular kind of reading...I wanted to read something that would comfort me,
- [Let Giftmas 2017 Begin!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/let-giftmas-2017-begin/) - Rhonda Parrish has been coordinating a Giftmas blog tour for some years now. Last year, which was when I joined, she added a fundraising aspect to the blog tour. In addition to writing about holiday traditions and our 2017 theme of Shining a Light, we're supporting Edmonton's Food Bank. Giftmas Goals I'm part of Giftmas
- [No Capes and No Action Figures](https://stephaniecainonline.com/no-capes-no-action-figures/) - I'm an only child, and growing up I was what they called a strong-willed child. I've always been very close to my parents, but I've also always had my own mind, and I've sometimes been crazy stubborn about following my own mind. I hope I'm not the only one who looks back on certain instances
- [Giftmas Guest Post by Pamela Q. Fernandes](https://stephaniecainonline.com/giftmas-guest-post-pamela-q-fernandes/) - Shining a Light This year our Giftmas theme has been shining a light. And it reminds me so much of the verse from John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” There’s a great darkness enveloping our world. You see it the news and the constant sadness of
- [Video Intro to My Fantasy Fiction](https://stephaniecainonline.com/video-intro-fantasy-fiction/) - While I was at the Greenwood Public Library Author Fair back in October, film student Victoria Johnson was kindly doing a project filming all of the authors talking about their books. After her editing, I want to share the video with you! If you haven't read any of my books yet, or you've read one
- [Making the Invisible Story Un-invisible: Guest Post by Garrett Hutson](https://stephaniecainonline.com/making-the-invisible-story-un-invisible-guest-post-by-garrett-hutson/) - Almost a year ago, I wrote a blog post recommending Garret Hutson's debut mystery novel, In a Safe Town. Today, Garrett drops by my blog to talk about his second mystery novel, The Jade Dragon, which I also loved. His first novel is set in 1980s Indiana. The Jade Dragon is the first in a series set in 1930s Shanghai—and
- [Happy Book Birthday to The Weather War!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/happy-book-birthday-weather-war/) - Who's ready for The Weather War? I know I am! I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of the novel. It's been quite a journey trying to get this just right--but I am one-hundred-percent confident that, by delaying the release of the novel, I've made The Weather War the best novel it can be. I had to
- [My OwnVoices 2017 Reading Resolution](https://stephaniecainonline.com/ownvoices-2017-reading-resolution/) - Today we're going to talk about diversity in books. Specifically, the OwnVoices movement. Most of us can agree that 2016 has been a year full of turmoil, trouble, and tears. As an historian, I watched the Republican candidate's campaign with growing horror. I could draw so many parallels to totalitarian regimes in history, and frequently I
- [Giveaway: Weather War Release Package](https://stephaniecainonline.com/weather-war-release-package-giveaway/) - The Weather War is less than a month away! To celebrate the novel's release (on Talk Like a Pirate Day, which you know Arama is happy about), I'm hosting a giveaway! I'll be sending Weather War-related gift packages to two lucky winners. The big package will have series-themed stickers, a wire-wrapped piece of found seaglass
- [The Weather War cover reveal and preorders](https://stephaniecainonline.com/the-weather-war-cover-reveal-preorders/) - I'm so excited to show you the awesome cover Nicole Cardiff created for The Weather War! I am in love with this cover. I have it as the wallpaper on both of my computers (even the one I don't write on) because it's so perfect. The figures on the cover are Princess Azmei Corrone (with the
- [NaNo 2007 = PWNED](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-2007-pwned/) - There were times I wasn't sure what I was doing, and I will never again change horses mid-stream during November, but I have validated my novel! In the course of validating, I always scramble my text, because I am an uber-paranoid nerd. It was so much fun seeing character names like that, I thought I
- [W00t!!!!!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/w00t/) - 25,000 baby JUST GOT THERE! OH YEAH! And still awake and writing for the night. *dances around* Tonight jenw118 gets the She helped me cross the halfway mark!!!!!
- [chugga chugga chugga chugga WOOOOWOOOOOO](https://stephaniecainonline.com/chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-woooowoooooo/) - I AM A FREIGHT TRAIN OF WORDS!!!!! 30,035 / 50,000 (60.1%) And I worked in all of krycek_chick's hidden box challenge tonight!!!! SKAWEEEE! Scene will be posted on theregent shortly. ETA: NaNo Friend Award for the night goes to krycek_chick, because her challenge has breathed new life into my flagging novel. I now know why people
- [Camp NaNoWriMo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/camp-nanowrimo/) - Just signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo. No idea why, except that, hey, I wrote 32K last month, so I ought to be able to write 50K this month, right? Especially since my goal is to finish the original novel revision by August 30. Let's hope, anyway. Also, I'm signed up as a sponsored camper, so
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day 30](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-30/) - I validated last night, in the middle of the scene that is about to ramp our characters up into the climax of the novel. Chloe and Braxton aren't talking to each other. As soon as Martin finds out about that, he won't be talking to Chloe either. Fortunately, Jason and Carrie are both down with
- [WOOHOO I DID IT!!!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/woohoo-i-did-it/) - Though I validated much lower than my actual word count, for some reason. I'm not quite finished with the novel itself, but I'm partly through the climax.
- [Spring Mill State Park: Memories and Some Photos](https://stephaniecainonline.com/spring-mill-state-park-memories-and-some-photos/) - The last time I was at Spring Mill, I was about 10 and we were camping there. We did a LOT of camping when I was younger. We only had one car, and Mom didn't work until I was in fifth grade, so a lot of times we would take Dad to work on Friday
- [This is your manuscript. With blood.](https://stephaniecainonline.com/this-is-your-manuscript-with-blood/) - Yes, it came out of the printer that way. And yes, it ruined several pages by leaving its remains in the printer.
- [WIP Wednesday](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wip-wednesday/) - I've been hard at work this month trying to finish my second third um... next-to-last draft of The Weather War by July 30! Since you've all been so patient, I wanted to reward you with a little snippet. This is a conversation between Lozarr and Arama, and if you've read Teeth in Their Song (which you can get free
- [Equus Blog Tour Schedule](https://stephaniecainonline.com/equus-blog-tour-schedule/) - Guess what happens in just twelve days? Give up? It's the release of Equus--#5 in Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menageries! I can hardly wait to have a copy in my grabby hands, but to help pass the time until then, we're doing a blog tour related to the anthology. It should be loads of fun. We'll be
- [Your Best Year 2017 Mid-Year Review](https://stephaniecainonline.com/best-year-2017-mid-year-review/) - This year I've been using Lisa Jacobs' Your Best Year 2017 as part of my business goal-making and planning. It's a great book, although I confess I haven't been using it to its full potential. I've also been following Lisa's blog and Instagram accounts for added inspiration and accountability. This afternoon I completed Lisa's 2017
- [The Secret History of “Scatter the Foals to the Wind”](https://stephaniecainonline.com/secret-history-scatter-foals/) - I'm thrilled to be sharing an anthology with a group of 18 other very talented writers. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, we're doing a blog tour as part of the Equus release this month. Today I'm pleased to host a guest post by Chadwick Ginther. The Secret History of “Scatter the Foals
- [Adventures in Research: Steering the Ship](https://stephaniecainonline.com/adventures-research-steering-ship/) - A couple of weeks ago, I went on vacation. A lot of it was sight-seeing and hiking, the sort of thing I like to do in my free time. But I also spent one day doing some very important Weather War ship research--which had the bonus of being amazingly fun. I went sailing! And not just
- [Books Read in 2015](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books-read-2015/) - Books Read in 2015 I read a total of 75 books last year. Here’s the full list! Please note, all links are Amazon affiliate links. :) The Thousand Names - Django Wexler River - Skyla Dawn Cameron Unstuck: Out of Your Cave Into Your Call - Mark Jobe - nonfiction Andersonville: The Last Depot -
- [Adventures in Research: Driving a Dream Car](https://stephaniecainonline.com/adventures-research-driving-dream-car/) - One of the best things about being a writer is how you can live so many different lives through your fiction. In one of my manuscripts, I have a character, Evan Maddox, who drives a brand new Chevy Camaro, because he likes loud and flashy things and has an almost reckless disregard for his own life,
- [Equus Cover Reveal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/equus-cover-reveal/) - I'm thrilled to share the Equus cover today! This cover was designed by Jonathan C. Parrish for the fifth and final book of Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menageries. The covers have all been gorgeous, and I'm seriously in love with this one. What else is there to say? Have a cover! Isn't it lovely? The anthology
- [Book Rec: Dream Eater by K. Bird Lincoln](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-dream-eater-k-bird-lincoln/) - A couple of months ago I shared the cover of Dream Eater by K. Bird Lincoln, and hosted a blog post by her. At the same time, I was also given an e-ARC of the book to read. Since the book releases today, I want to tell you how much I liked it. Koi is an
- [Excuses Post Is Full of Excuses](https://stephaniecainonline.com/excuses-post-full-excuses-2/) - Wow, it's spring. We're only ten days away from April. And the Weather War deadline I had set for February 28 is waaaaaaay overdue. I do have some excuses legitimate reasons for being past deadline. I discovered a plot issue that required me to stop writing, outline the rest of the series, and rework a few
- [NaNo update - moving along better today](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-moving-along-better-today/) - 18778 / 50000 words. 38% done! At this point I really need someone whose read what I have to discuss this stuff with, and slightlyjillian doesn't seem to be home and astraea36 is probably not around since Ray is OMGhomeYAY!!! I have been lucky in that _lore is great for bouncing ideas off of, with
- [WIP Wednesday: The Weather War](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wip-wednesday-the-weather-war/) - In honor of Valentine's Day (which I don't actually celebrate because really, a holiday to celebrate romantic love that's named after a monk who was martyred? Right.) I wanted to share a snippet from The Weather War with a bit of relationship stuff. Because yes, this is a kissing book, even if romance takes a back burner to cataclysms
- [Creative Doesn't Have to Mean Cluttered!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/creative-doesnt-mean-cluttered/) - I know, you just read the post title and you're already mad at me. But hear me out! I'm not writing to condemn people with cluttered houses--far from it! I have plenty of messy tendencies, and right now, I'm very glad no one can see the inside of my closet. But something I've learned about myself
- [EpicWorlds Spec Fic Ebook Giveaway](https://stephaniecainonline.com/epicworlds-spec-fic-ebook-giveaway/) - I'm joining together with more than 75 other science fiction, fantasy, and fantasy romance authors to do a huge EpicWorlds ebook giveaway starting today! There are all kinds of great selections listed in this giveaway, and they're all FREE! With so many selections, it wouldn't be hard to find enough books to keep you busy
- [Storms in Amethir Omnibus Available Today!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/storms-amethor-omnibus-available-today/) - My Storms in Amethir Books 1-3 Omnibus is available today! To everyone who's already pre-ordered it, thank you--this is going to be my best release day yet because of you! To everyone who hasn't ordered it yet, you've only got a few more days to get the omnibus at the $.99 price. After this weekend, the
- [Cover Reveal: Dream Eater by K. Bird Lincoln](https://stephaniecainonline.com/cover-reveal-dream-eater-k-bird-lincoln/) - Today I'm excited to be part of a cover reveal of Dream Eater for World Weaver Press. This is a gorgeous cover, and the book sounds fantastic! Here's the description: Koi Pierce dreams other peoples' dreams. Her whole life she's avoided other people. Any skin-to-skin contact—a hug from her sister, the hand of a barista
- [3 Japanese Female Fantasy Writers You Should Read](https://stephaniecainonline.com/3-japanese-female-fantasy-writers/) - So yesterday was the cover reveal of Dream Eater and today I have a guest post from K. Bird Lincoln, the author of Dream Eater! K. Bird Lincoln is an ESL professional and writer living on the windswept Minnesota Prairie with family and a huge addiction to frou-frou coffee. Also dark chocolate--without which, the world is a howling void.
- [Amethir Omnibus Cover and Release Date!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/amethir-omnibus-cover-release-date/) - I'm thrilled to share with you the cover of my Storms in Amethir Books 1 - 3 Omnibus! This collection has everything I've published so far in the series, plus an original story written just for this omnibus! I'll probably have the story available on its own for $.99 at some point in the future, but
- [Book Rec: Angela Korra'ti's Free Court of Seattle](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-angela-korrati/) - I've had Faerie Blood by Angela Korra'ti on my Kindle app for some time now because I like the author's blog. I finally got around to starting it last week, and I did nothing else all day but read it--far too late in the night! As soon as I finished the first book, I bought
- [Senjy's Where I Write Meme](https://stephaniecainonline.com/senjys-where-i-write-meme/) - Where I write My desk Things about the pictures: The framed picture is an original by krycek_chick Wolf calendar that I often forget to change My grandma's mockingbird ink blotter is sitting on the docking station. The purple container is my small BPAL container. The pink container is a brownie, yum. That's a fairy and
- [Email Newsletter and Patreon Update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/email-newsletter-patreon-update/) - Quick post today, mostly to mention my email newsletter. I'm sending out to my email subscribers tomorrow. It's important, and it has an impact on my next book release. If you want to have your voice heard, you need to subscribe to my newsletter now! I'll be making an announcement next month about this, but everyone
- [Self-Pub 101: Four Twitter Rules for Authors](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-pub-101-twitter-authors/) - Today I'm going to write about a pet peeve of mine: Twitter's Direct Message feature. Specifically, how authors use Twitter's Direct Message feature. This week, I had several people follow me on Twitter. (I'm here: @stephanie_cain) Generally speaking, I take a look at someone's profile and their most recent tweets before deciding if I'm going to
- [Book Rec: C is for Chimera - Spec Fic Anthology](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-c-chimera/) - I was lucky enough to score an e-ARC of Rhonda Parrish's latest alphabet anthology, C is for Chimera. Releasing April 12, this book is a good showcase for Parrish's literary curatorship. I'm a huge fan of Parrish's anthologies, from Fae to Corvidae and its companion Scarecrow, so I jumped at a chance to review her latest. And while this
- [Mystery Book Rec: In a Safe Town](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-safe-town/) - Okay, let me start with a disclaimer. Well, with two disclaimers. One: Mystery isn't my main reading genre. And two: I've been reeling since the election on November 8. I'll be clear here: I was a Bernie Sanders supporter, but I voted for Hillary Clinton. And I am still stunned and in mourning that Hillary
- [Looking for some accountability?](https://stephaniecainonline.com/looking-for-some-accountability/) - I just signed up with a goal of 200,000 words in 2012. My projects will be to complete the rewrite of my urban fantasy novel, to complete the first draft of this year's epic fantasy novel, and to write a couple of short stories. I'm also factoring in 50,000 words of NaNoWriMo 2012 into the
- [My Favorite Bit about Shades of Circle City](https://stephaniecainonline.com/my-favorite-bit-about-shades-of-circle-city/) - Hi everyone! Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate! Happy Thursday to everyone outside the US! ;) Today I'm over at Mary Robinette Kowal's blog talking about My Favorite Bit of Shades of Circle City. If you don't know Mary Robinette Kowal's writing, by the way, you're missing out! Her Glamourist Histories series is
- [Shades of Circle City Playlist](https://stephaniecainonline.com/shades-circle-city-playlist/) - I made a playlist on Spotify of some of the many songs I've been listening to while writing this third draft of Shades of Circle City. I think it captures some of the feel of the book. :) This is just a short version. My actual iTunes playlist has 74 songs in it, but these are the
- [Shades of Circle City now available!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/shades-circle-city-now-available/) - I'm so excited! Shades of Circle City is available to be purchased on Amazon as an ebook. Paperbacks are in process and should appear in the next day or two. Other retailer websites should have it available soon, and I'll update the book's page here as those populate. For this week only, the ebook is
- [Master post of my favorite NaNoWriMo tools](https://stephaniecainonline.com/master-post-of-my-favorite-nanowrimo-tools/) - Some of my favorite writing links, just in time for NaNoWriMo: Outline Your Novel in 30 Minutes - This has a lot of useful questions to get to know your characters. I've used this several times. Sketch a Novel in an Hour - Very similar to the first, which it's based on. The Snowflake Method
- [Wrimo tools for RSI](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wrimo-tools-for-rsi/) - I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, as do some of you others. I've had two cortisone shots in each wrist over the past seven years, and hopefully can put off surgery for another ten years or so. But NaNoWriMo is a fun time for those of us with CTS and other Repetitive Stress Injuries. So. Some
- [Get Stormshadow free on Digital Book Day!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormshadow-free-book-digital-book-day/) - Everyone loves getting a free book, right? Well, what about lots of free books? Even better! So get your mouse-clicking finger in shape and check out Digital Book Day this coming Monday! Author CJ Lyons decided it was time to free the Bastille books for a day, so she organized Digital Book Day as a place for
- [LJ and Copyright Questions](https://stephaniecainonline.com/lj-and-copyright-questions/) - Questions have arisen about LiveJournal and a Broadcasting Treaty proposed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In particular there is a discussion about the threat this treaty might pose to bloggers' intellectual property rights here. I personally have too little understanding of copyright law to comment, though as the Copyright Officer at Purdue often
- [Tamsin Showbrook on Sirens and Writing Process](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tamsin-showbrook-sirens/) - Hi everyone! A couple of weeks ago I told you to preorder Rhonda Parrish's newest anthology Sirens. Today I'm hosting a guest post from one of the authors in the anthology. Tamsin Showbrook wrote "Siren's Odyssey," one of my favorites from the book. She's here today to talk about her writing process. So without further ado, here's
- [You Should Preorder Rhonda Parrish's Sirens Anthology Now!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/you-should-preorder-rhonda-parrishs-sirens-anthology-now/) - Sirens is yet another strong entry into the Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menagerie series from World Weaver Press. As I've said before, I'm not usually one to read anthologies, but I've gotten hooked on Parrish's carefully shaped anthologies. I'll try not to spoil any of the stories too much for you as I review this latest
- [Book Signing Saturday](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-signing-saturday/) - I have two events scheduled for this coming Saturday, so if you're anywhere in central Indiana, you can swing by a couple of places to get a copy of Stormshadow and have it signed by yours truly! Local Author Fair, 10 am - noon Crawfordsville District Public Library 205 S. Washington Street Crawfordsville, Indiana Come find me
- [WIP Wednesday: Shades of Circle City](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wip-wednesday-shades-circle-city/) - I'm having a blast finishing up with Shades of Circle City! I'm still wavering between calling this novel urban fantasy or calling it paranormal romance. Either way, it's very different from my Storms in Amethir books, but it's a lot of fun to write. You can read the back of the book and sign up to be notified
- [Sunday Snippet: Meet Princess Azmei](https://stephaniecainonline.com/sunday-snippet-meet-princess-azmei/) - When I wrote Stormsinger, I was actually surprised to realize Prince Vistaren of Amethir was betrothed to Princess Azmei of Tamnen. It was a political alliance, and not the easiest alliance to make, because Amethirian privateers have been known to attack Tamnese ships on occasion. Since I already knew Vistaren is gay, I knew that
- [Stormshadow Cover Reveal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormshadow-cover-reveal/) - I am so thrilled! I've been showing this to my friends in person, and I have it as my computer wallpaper, but finally I can share with you the cover design for Stormshadow! The artist is the phenomenally talented Phuoc Quan, who is not only a great artist but a delight to work with. He took
- [First Look Friday--To Sow the Wind](https://stephaniecainonline.com/first-look-friday-to-sow-the-wind/) - I'm super excited! In a couple of weeks I'll have a novella, To Sow the Wind, available in a different world than the Storms in Amethir series, and just this week I got the final art from my phenomenal artist, Phuoc Quan! I'm going to tease you all with a glimpse of the art: Stay tuned
- [Epic fantasy novella Sow the Wind now available!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/epic-fantasy-novella-sow-wind-now-available/) - I'm pleased to announce that my epic fantasy novella Sow the Wind is now available for Amazon Kindle! I'll also have print editions available soon. Synopsis Eighteen-year-old Gabriel Malnythe should be training for his inheritance as a warrior nobleman. Instead, he dreams of entering the clergy and devoting his life to philosophy. But fever takes the lives
- [Stormseer Cover Reveal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormseer-cover-reveal/) - Here it is! Isn't it gorgeous? The Stormseer art is by the amazing Nicole Cardiff, who has been a dream to work with. I'm happy to say I'll have a Q&A blog post with Nicole coming up soon. I love this art! I think it fits the story perfectly--I hope after you read it,
- [Stormseer Book Trailer](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormseer-book-trailer/) - I have a book trailer! I've been wanting to try this since Stormshadow, and thankfully Laura VanArendonk Baugh is an experienced video editor and was willing to spend the time and energy making it happen today. Check it out, and if you like it, please share far and wide using the hashtag #Stormseer! :D Share on
- [Stormseer Post at Mary Robinette Kowal's My Favorite Bit](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormseer-post-my-favorite-bit/) - I'm so excited! Today I have a guest post over at Mary Robinette Kowal's website, talking about My Favorite Bit of Stormseer! You might remember that I read Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamour in Glass series recently--think historical fantasy along the lines of Sorcery & Cecilia--Magic meets Jane Austen. Well, I'm also a faithful reader of
- [New Short Fiction: The Midwinter Royal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/the-midwinter-royal-a-romance-of-tamnen/) - The Midwinter Royal: A Romance of Tamnen I’m very excited to announce that I have a holiday surprise for all my readers! No, it’s not The Weather War–that’s still having the plot smoothed out and such. But it is a new story set in the same world as the Storms in Amethir series! The Midwinter
- [SFWC giveaway](https://stephaniecainonline.com/sfwc-giveaway/) - Writer's Digest is giving away a ticket to the San Francisco Writers Conference. I'm entering to win, because this is the year of the dragon, which means it's my year. :D I confess, I would be utterly unprepared to go, and I would have about a week to get ready, but hey, I'm spontaneous and
- [ARGH](https://stephaniecainonline.com/argh/) - What I am supposed to be doing: working on my epic fantasy novel. What I am doing: working on the Lovefool achievement in Warcraft, reading TaleSpin fansites, compulsively checking my friends lists, and freezing my ass off. To be completely fair to myself, I have made a lot of progress in brainstorming changes to the
- [Every Cliche in the Book](https://stephaniecainonline.com/ouch-3/) - Man, there's nothing like spending an afternoon looking through stories you wrote ten years ago and reading the critiques from your creative writing classes (including the one where I got a C for the assignment and was told basically, "Way to write every cliche in the book, now scrap it and start with something fresh.")
- [WRITING](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing/) - In a new genre. SO THERE.
- [Novel musings](https://stephaniecainonline.com/novel-musings/) - I have just finished my rereading of my rewrite of my Epic Fantasy novel. (Haha - does that make any sense?) It's a project I got started on a couple of years ago, thanks to slightlyjillian's close reading and critiquing abilities, and it's one that got abandoned for NaNoWriMo. I've been meaning to get back
- [TLF - W00T!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tlf-w00t/) - I have just finished my novel. Draft #4, dramatically different from Draft #3, the one I think may be marketable, 742 pages long. I have had my CD on repeat for an hour, while writing the last chapter and the epilogue. I don't know how I feel. Jubilant and sad, excited and tired, energized and
- [Klutz Attack](https://stephaniecainonline.com/klutz-attack/) - Today I was lying in bed around 8 am, asleep and dreaming. In my dream, my mother had just said, "Will you get that?" of the telephone. In the real world, our telephone began ringing. (cue spooky music) I jumped out of bed, startled from sleep, and ran smack into the end of the door.
- [Hotwire the Spaceship](https://stephaniecainonline.com/347/) - Also, thanks go to rimwalker, who sent me the most awesomest text messages in response to my weird TextLJ post: rimwalker 4:19pm: We need saved from our jobs this week I think. rimwalker 4:19pm: a sudden and extended vacation to another planet sounds about right. rimwalker 4:20pm: you kung-fu the guards, i'll hotwire the spaceship
- [Blockhead Writer Report](https://stephaniecainonline.com/blockhead-writer-report/) - Story: 4 stephaniecain: 0 Have just scrapped Draft Three and am working with a new title, new POV, and rather altered plot. Is it good or bad that I have been staring at the computer and leading jenw118 astray and trying to write this story, rather than cleaning the bathrooms and mopping the kitchen floor
- [NaNo Procrastination techniques](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-procrastination-techniques/) - My number one procrastination technique for anything is cleaning up my desk. I did that already. Last night I went through iTunes and deleted every song name that had been disconnected from the file. Because OMG I HAD TO DO IT RIGHT THEN OR THE WORLD WOULD EXPLODE!!! Tonight I am going to do that
- [2008 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2008-reading-list/) - Magic Lost, Trouble Found - Lisa Shearin (a present from krycek_chick!!) Captain's Fury - Jim Butcher The Goblin Wood - Hilari Bell Austenland - Shannon Hale Book of a Thousand Days - Shannon Hale Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs Rendezvous With Rama - Arthur C. Clarke Coyote Road - ed by Datling/Windling Rama II -
- [Tippecanoe and Tyler Too](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tippecanoe-and-tyler-too/) - Well, not really. But I've just noticed that the town where I was born made USA Today. The monument at the Tippecanoe Battlefield was 'defaced'. The so-called vandals wrote "America repent" and "Tecumsehs not dead" [sic] and "Give us back our spiritual capital." Everyone is appalled, of course...but me, I think it's just political activism,
- [Really need to get on this](https://stephaniecainonline.com/really-need-to-get-on-this/) - It's driving me crazy that I have done no submissions all summer. To do list: Finish the edits on The-novel-formerly-known-as-FTGGI.Find an agent to submit to.In the meantime find places to send "Inheritance" and "The Ruiner" and "A Delicate Balance" and the short story about Fin, the name of which I have forgotten.Work on edits to
- [2006 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2006-reading-list-3/) - Hmm. I've read two books already this year, so I suppose I should start the 2006 reading list post. Twilight- Stephanie Meyers Kitty and the Midnight Hour- Carrie Vaughn Grave Sight- Charlaine Harris The Decoy Princess- Dawn Cook Shadowmarch- Tad Williams Bitten and Smitten- Michelle Rowen Poison Study- Maria V. Snyder The Dwarves of Whiskey
- [My 2007 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/my-2007-reading-list-2/) - 2007 Reading list Terrier - Tamora Pierce The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After - Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer The Hunter's Moon - O.R. Melling First Test - Tamora Pierce Page - Tamora Pierce Squire - Tamora Pierce Lady Knight - Tamora Pierce Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs The Green Man: Tales from
- [LJ and Copyright, Part 2](https://stephaniecainonline.com/lj-and-copyright-part-2/) - Okay, in my first post about LJ and copyright, I talked about the WIPO Broadcasting Treaty and LJ's Terms of Service. In this installment, we'll be discussing concerns about publishing what you've already blogged. I'm going to quote from the August 2005 issue of Writer's Digest magazine. Q: Does having a story posted on a
- [Time to look forward](https://stephaniecainonline.com/time-to-look-forward/) - Original fic projects Revise FTGGI and find a new title for it. Maybe Shaper of Shadows would work...? Shaper? I don't usually like one-word titles as much, though. Submit the story that Winter Raven was going to publish before they went under ("A Delicate Balance"). Submit "Warleader" somewhere "Tricksters Without Borders" with slightlyjillian Find a
- [Original Fiction: Project Post](https://stephaniecainonline.com/original-fiction-project-post/) - I'm in crisis over TLF. It is such a bloody mess right now. Last week I was trying to work out plotting on it and stuff, because I've decided to go back in time from where I started the last draft, and I think it needs to be two books, actually, rather than one, and...well,
- [More productivity, of the creative variety](https://stephaniecainonline.com/more-productivity-of-the-creative-variety/) - This week I've been revising and polishing another story. This one...well, I like a lot of the imagery in it, and generally speaking I like the plot, and I am in love with the setting (because hey, how often do you get to write a dark fantasy story set in the town where your mom
- [2009 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2009-reading-list/) - I haven't actually read any books yet this year! I have joined Goodreads.com though. My profile is here if any of you feel like joining. larinzia has inspired me to try to keep a better list, but it probably won't happen. LOL Books read in 2009 Gone for Good - Harlan Coben Cry Wolf -
- [The Goblin Market](https://stephaniecainonline.com/the-goblin-market/) - I was having a conversation with megburden about this scene. It made up about ~3500 words out of the ~36k I managed from NaNo09, but this 1% turned out to change the course of a lot of the novel from here on out. The Goblin Market became a character of its own in the novel.
- [Word goals and whining](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-goals-and-whining/) - In the interest of pure honesty, I have only managed 500 words once since making my new goals five days ago. Part of me feels like a failure and part of me has decided that I'm going on vacation in three days and bugger those goals. I find myself frustrated. The common theme in my
- [Query Letter--Third Revision](https://stephaniecainonline.com/query-letter-third-revision/) - I've edited this thing again. Now I'm happier with the query letter than I am the novel! Illinois native Zeva Couran is really tired of the starving artist shtick. She still loves the craft of pottery; it's the starving she has a problem with. When she's attacked in the street and finds herself swept off
- [Excuses, Excuses](https://stephaniecainonline.com/excuses-excuses/) - I've been making a lot of those lately. "It's a three-day weekend, I don't want to work on the revision." "I have a migraine. I don't want to work on the revision." "I worked on plotting and world-building for a different project, I don't want to work on the revision too." "I spent all day doing
- [NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 14](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2011-day-14/) - Finally, this novel (or this novelist) is picking up steam! Woohoo! 17056 / 50000 (34.11%) :)
- [NaNoWriMo Day 17 - Only a little behind now...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-day-17-only-a-little-behind-now/) - WOOHOO!!!!! 26161 / 50000 (52.32%) I broke the halfway point today and had just over 6,000 words! Heading to bed early (haha, yes, 1:30 am is early these days) as a reward, and tomorrow I get to play Dragon Age or Warcraft for a couple of hours. I'm on a roll now, baby! Also, I
- [2012 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2012-reading-list/) - I always try to make my first post of the year my reading list for the year, so I can find it easily. Last year I read 77 books, 10 of which were nonfiction. I'm going to try to make that 15 nonfiction in the coming year. 2012 Reading List The Body Finder - Kimberly
- [Renaming a character](https://stephaniecainonline.com/renaming-a-character/) - I should have realized that renaming one of the major villains in my epic fantasy novel was going to be a lot of work. I'm one of those people who's always set great store by names. I love to know the meaning of names. I throw in little jokes about the meanings. I play with
- [A question about world-building](https://stephaniecainonline.com/a-question-about-world-building/) - I'm almost 20,000 words into my epic fantasy novel revision, and I'm finally beating my head against a subject I have long dreaded. Calendars. Seems like an innocent enough idea, until you think about how in epic fantasy novels, the world is usually not our own. Okay, Middle-Earth was our world, in a sense. But
- [Excuses post is full of excuses](https://stephaniecainonline.com/excuses-post-is-full-of-excuses/) - Okay, time to guilt myself into writing more. I meant to write a bunch last night. Instead I got sucked into the first three chapters of Love Is an Orientation by Andrew Marin. Good writing, and an amazing and excellent mission. I'm having to fight to keep myself from picking it back up to read
- [Writing isn't always lonely](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-isnt-always-lonely/) - When I'm struggling through the nitty-gritty grind of squeezing out word after word, trying to get things just right on the page, it's really easy to forget there's a world out there, let alone other people who understand what I'm going through. Then I see a post from someone like kosmickway, talking about some aspect
- [Restart and Reboot Yourself](https://stephaniecainonline.com/restart-and-reboot-yourself/) - Prompt: Take a line from a song that you love or connect with. Now forget the song, and turn that line into the title or inspiration for your post.The song in question is U2's "Unknown Caller"--a song from their No Line On The Horizon album, which constantly amazes me with its depth and emotion, not
- [Back That File Up!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/back-that-file-up/) - I'm privileged to own two Windows computers as well as a netbook on which I'm running Xubuntu Linux. One of the Windows computers is a Windows 8 laptop I got in December (and which I share with my mom at times). The other is a Vista machine I got early in 2008. I've been having
- [Kitten pictures](https://stephaniecainonline.com/kitten-pictures/)
- [The NaNoWriMo Conundrum](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-conundrum/) - Ten years ago I signed up for NaNoWriMo and wrote the novel I'm currently querying. I took this strange, new approach to novel-writing and called it a vacation--I took a vacation from what I usually wrote, which is epic fantasy, and decided to experiment with urban fantasy. I allowed myself to try something entirely different
- [Time Management for Write--OOH SHINY!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/time-management-write-ooh-shiny/) - I am far from the most disciplined person I know. Two of my writer friends looked at my 2014 writing plan and made noises like they were impressed. It was tempting to pretend I've got it all together, but since both of those writer friends are selling more stuff than I am, it wouldn't just
- [I Can Quit Anytime](https://stephaniecainonline.com/i-can-quit-anytime/) - My town recently lost a precious commodity. A cherished landmark really. Well, I cherished it, at least. And I'm still in the denial stage of grief. Our Staples store closed on March 1. Please bow your head with me for a moment of silence. In the month of warning we had, I think I visited
- [What to Get a Self-Published Author for Christmas](https://stephaniecainonline.com/get-self-published-author-christmas/) - Are you shopping for a self-published author? Are you tired of giving them notebooks and pens for Christmas? (Hint: You shouldn't be.) Do you want something more meaningful or significant than yet another book on how to market your novel? Then you're at the right blog! I have a list of fantastic suggestions for you!
- [Sunday Snippet: Stormseer](https://stephaniecainonline.com/sunday-snippet-stormseer/) - I'm still hard at work on Stormseer, and it's closer than ever to being publication-ready. I'm aiming for a late March release date. In the meantime, I thought I'd offer a snippet of the novel-in-progress and a glimpse at some of the sources of my inspiration. I use Pinterest to gather images that inspire me,
- [Deconstructing the Strong Female Character in Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/deconstructing-strong-female-character-fantasy/) - Strong Female Character is a term we’ve heard a lot in the past few years. A lot of people seem to think a Strong Female Character is a girl who kicks ass and takes names, doesn’t need anyone, and likes weapons and black leather. I have a slightly different definition of a Strong Female Character.
- [Hope in Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/hope-in-fantasy/) - I am of the fervent belief that speculative fiction is the literature of hope. Successful grimdark authors like G.R.R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie and popular dystopian sagas like The Hunger Games notwithstanding, I believe that the main function of speculative fiction is to imagine a better world that could exist, whether it be through magic
- ["Outlining a Novel in an Hour" article](https://stephaniecainonline.com/outlining-a-novel-in-an-hour-article/) - Because there are only four days until registration for NaNoWriMo begins... (and I just realized that while doing some edits over at my Geocities webspace, I accidentally deleted my NaNo Resources page. *sigh* OUTLINING A NOVEL IN AN HOUR by Chris York Based on an exercise designed by Alicia Rasley This is a quick exercise
- [ACFW](https://stephaniecainonline.com/acfw/) - After a visit from author Colleen Coble at my library this weekend, I've joined American Christian Fiction Writers. Unfortunately the site doesn't seem to be loading this morning, but I did get an email from them telling them my application had been accepted, so hopefully this week I'll be spending some time exploring the members-only
- [The Wise Reader](https://stephaniecainonline.com/the-wise-reader/) - Filtered to the Novel-Reading Group: slightlyjillian posted these a while back, and I'm gonna borrow them back, because someone has asked for things to help look over the rodeo novel. These are suggestions, and don't feel like they all have to be answered or whatever, but they're pretty good guidelines. ^__^ Again, locked to the
- [What Do You Have To Say? - Writing: Makes Me A Better Writer](https://stephaniecainonline.com/what-do-you-have-to-say-writing-makes-me-a-better-writer/) - The biggest influence in making me a better writer has been finding people to partner with. I have a group of friends on LiveJournal who are all writers, and we formed a closed, friends-only community to share our work with each other, provide critiques, share inspiration, and challenge each other. More than anything, these people
- [Michael A. Banks on Writer's Block](https://stephaniecainonline.com/michael-a-banks-on-writers-block/) - "Writer's block is a common malady. Most people (especially those who don't write) don't understand it. And many writers don't understand it, either. If you understand how and why something works, you are halfway to solving your problem. So I propose now to remove the mystery surrounding writer's block. Ready? Writer's block is not being
- [Work and work...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/work-and-work-2/) - Why is it that whenever I am at my day job, I get all excited to work on the novel…and that excitement seems to be killed by the hour-long commute at the end of the day? I sometimes write at lunch, but the conditions around my coworkers aren’t conducive for that often. I’m not a
- [New goals](https://stephaniecainonline.com/new-goals/) - OK I am setting writing goals for myself starting today. I'm going to make myself write 500 words of my short story before I get online. I've decided that I have two years of warning before my job goes away, and what if I try to position myself so that I have income from my
- [Writing Goals for 2011](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-goals-for-2011/) - So I generally eschew New Year's Resolutions (and I've recently become a fan of slightlyjillian's method of taking stock and making resolutions on your birthday). But I also think there's a lot of value in having a writing plan for the year, and October (when my birthday is) seems like a weird time to create
- [Productivity: or the lack thereof](https://stephaniecainonline.com/productivity-or-the-lack-thereof/) - What I've managed to do this weekend is depressing. Yes, so I put a new battery in my car (and in the process realized I had no antifreeze in there--yikes!). And I spent some time with my aunts. Did some organizing that desperately needed to be done. Finished reading another book. Converted another tape of
- [Writing Plan - August through December](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-plan-august-through-december/) - August 2012 - Finish The Loyalty Factor revision. - Finish "Blue Watch" or "Long Way Home." - Identify markets for short story. September 2012 - Write a short story set in Teronn. - Begin querying agents about The Loyalty Factor. - Submit finished short story. October 2012 - Continue querying agents about The Loyalty Factor.
- [On Temptation](https://stephaniecainonline.com/on-temptation/) - Today's a snow day. We got 5 inches overnight, and I cancelled my plans for today, because the county doesn't bother plowing our roads, so I'll be lucky to make it to my doctor appointment tomorrow, let alone get out today. I spent the morning on sorting through old files and getting rid of papers
- [How does your garden grow?](https://stephaniecainonline.com/how-does-your-garden-grow/) - It's summer in Indiana, and along with a ridiculous storm season and a disgusting surge in tick population, that means the garden is at full tilt. Tonight I had peas and radishes from the garden, and in the next several weeks we'll be getting carrots, green beans, tomatoes, and green peppers. We're already so sick
- [The Reckless Enthusiasm of New Projects](https://stephaniecainonline.com/the-reckless-enthusiasm-of-new-projects/) - I'm currently in a position where there's no work to be done on the novel I've been polishing for the past year. Waiting to hear from others who have to read a lot of words first, so what do I do in the meantime? For one thing, I'm catching up on my reading by picking
- [2014 New Year's Resolutions: Writing Edition](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2014-new-years-resolutions-writing-edition/) - Yesterday I worked on my 2014 Writing Plan. Today I'm exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. I have some ambitious plans for the upcoming 365 days. Honestly I'll be happy if I accomplish half of them. But I really want to meet all of these goals and more. I want to get more short
- [Blog Chain: My Writing Process and Current Projects](https://stephaniecainonline.com/blog-chain/) - People who read my blog probably already know I'm a huge fan of Laura VanArendonk Baugh, who writes fantasy and historical fantasy and also happens to live close enough to me that we hang out on a regular basis. She just recently revealed the cover of her forthcoming novel Con Job, and I'm thrilled to say
- [What I've Learned About Writing From My Cats](https://stephaniecainonline.com/ive-learned-writing-cats/) - Here's the blog post you knew was coming. The crazy cat lady is going to try to say writing is like being a crazy cat lady. But hear me out! Every project is different. Strider takes kitty Prozac because he pees in inappropriate places. It's something that started after I brought in my third cat, Eustace, and
- [That 35k NaNoWriMo Despair](https://stephaniecainonline.com/that-35k-nanowrimo-despair/) - I'm at that point again. The point where I hate my current novel-in-progress. The point where I think almost all of my characters are vapid and the love story won't sell itself and the plot is pointless and the world-building is too thin. The point where I think, Oh, lord, I have to write another
- [2015 Year in Review](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2015-year-in-review/) - 2015 Year in Review Seems like everyone’s doing a year-in-review post. I meant to do one a couple of days ago, but I’m just now getting around to it. New Year’s Eve I was busy plotting instead of writing. Yesterday I spent much of the day doing a First Day Hike at Shades State Park.
- [Time Management Quote](https://stephaniecainonline.com/time-management/) - From McGee-Cooper, as quoted in Time Management, Planning, and Prioritization for Librarians by Judith A. Siess: "The divergent mind is great at generating quantity [such as tasks], but it has a difficult time remembering what has been generated. It needs a system for seeing all of the tasks that have been identified and their relative
- [Better Writing Habits: Day 1](https://stephaniecainonline.com/better-writing-habits-day-1/) - I'm a reader of Procrastinating Writers blog and Write It Sideways blog. For the month of January, both bloggers are producing a "Better Writing Habits" newsletter, and I'm subscribed to that. Today I'm posting my response to the first day of their series. What are your worst writing habits of 2010? Today’s Challenge: Identify your
- [Writing progress and computer frustrations](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-progress-and-computer-frustrations/) - *eyes desktop warily* My 4-year-old HP desktop is acting unhappy lately. It'll boot up, I'll start doing something, and two minutes later it just randomly shuts off and goes into the reboot cycle. O.o Or it tries to boot, then freezes and I have to do a hard reboot. *sigh* I really really can't afford
- [Writing daily...on a cyclical basis](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-daily-on-a-cyclical-basis/) - I'm a member of the inkingitout community, where we check in on a regular basis with the amount of words we've written. There are great conversation starters posted at the journal as well, and recent questions have been about the timing of our writing. Do we write on a daily basis, on a cyclical basis,
- [Writing Patterns for July](https://stephaniecainonline.com/time-management-2/) - Because I have become obsessed with the time-management side of writing, I printed out a calendar of July and marked the days I didn't write. I wanted to see if there was a pattern. And I discovered there's a pretty obvious pattern. SUN MON TUES WEDS THURS FRI SAT 1 2 NO WRITING 3 4
- [Why Writer's Block is Bullshit](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writers-block-bullshit/) - Warning: As today's post title might have warned you, this post will involve some language. It's time for some tough love, and writer's block is bullshit. I've been a lazy writer. When I look at my writing plan for this summer, I should have Shades of Circle City with beta-readers and I should have just finished writing
- [Kittens make everything better](https://stephaniecainonline.com/kittens-make-everything-better/) - Back in late January we had several nights of single-digit temperature, and we finally lured our stray cat inside. Didn't really need another cat, since I already have Eowyn and Strider, but the stray was a gorgeous, purry, sociable calico, and there are coyotes around here, so we hate seeing strays anyway. Of course, what
- [The Solution to Snow](https://stephaniecainonline.com/the-solution-to-snow/) - This is what my drive home from work looked like today. Since then we've had probably 6 inches of snow, and more is on the way. Here is my answer to that: Because cats are perfect little space heaters.
- [6 Ways My Love For Nature Makes Me a Better Writer](https://stephaniecainonline.com/6-ways-nature-makes-me-better-writer/) - I'm a nature nerd. I have been since I was old enough to listen to my Grampa Al when he pointed out animal tracks and different kinds of plants and trees on our walks together. Thanks to him, I got interested in bird-watching. Thanks to him, I'll never forget that the Latin name for the Indiana
- [Novel excerpt from MAZE OF MOMENTS](https://stephaniecainonline.com/novel-excerpt-from-maze-of-moments/) - To give myself some motivation to keep working on the revision, I'm posting an excerpt of the novel I'm currently revising (again) to try to get it ready to query agents. Any and all critiques are welcome. This is the first eight pages of my novel Maze of Moments, a modern faerie story. *** Forget
- [Chapter Four...finally](https://stephaniecainonline.com/chapter-four-finally/) - I finally finished chapter four and sent it off to the beta-readers. That gave me a brief sense of relief, but of course, chapter five is already underway. Apparently having to wait at the tire repair place is good for me, or at least good for my characters, because I got the better part of
- [Hijacked by Backstory](https://stephaniecainonline.com/hijacked-by-backstory/) - The novel revision has been on hold for a couple of weeks as I've been working on backstory for several of the characters. Not generic backstory like, "He had four brothers and two of them died and now he's the heir" or "She grew up north of the mountains and has never been in a
- [Backstory complete](https://stephaniecainonline.com/backstory-complete/) - I completed my backstory on Saturday, and on Sunday heard back with approval from my beta-reader. The story answered her questions, so now I have the opportunity to weave the backstory into my novel in several tiny snippets. I finished up somewhere between 21,000 and 22,000 words, which is a lot of writing to never
- [Book Review: Business for Authors by Joanna Penn](https://stephaniecainonline.com/business-for-authors-by-joanna-penn/) - Back in March I finally finished Business for Authors: How to be an Author Entrepreneur by Joanna Penn, and here it is May and I'm finally finishing my review of the book! I had owned this book for months, and I think I was subconsciously intimidated by it. Why else would I have read all kinds of other
- [Mid-March #WIPJoy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mid-march-wipjoy/) - Wow, so far 2016 has gotten off to a rocky start for me. I suffer from mild chronic depression, and my doctor and I forgot to up my Zoloft dosage for winter this year, which was a mistake. So I managed a strong start to The Weather War, and then slumped. I have managed to
- [Quick update on life](https://stephaniecainonline.com/quick-update-on-life/) - Spring has finally arrived in Indiana. Arrived, and whooshed straight into 80-degree days, because that's how we do spring in Indiana. Next week we'll probably drop back into the 40s. I participated in Camp NaNoWriMo this past April, and thanks to that and the Monthly Twitter Writing Challenge, I wrote 47,355 words in April. I'm thiiiiiiis
- [Sunday Snippet: Snowplows and Sixth Street](https://stephaniecainonline.com/sunday-snippet-snowplows-and-sixth-street/) - With the crazy snow coming down today, I thought this was an appropriate snippet. It's from the story I'm currently working on--an urban fantasy set here in Central Indiana. One of the characters featured in this story is a character who appears in several of my other urban fantasy stories, including the novel I wrote
- [Sunday Snippet: Arama and Vistaren](https://stephaniecainonline.com/sunday-stormsinger-snippet-arama-and-vistaren/) - I've been rotten at writing blog posts lately, haven't I? I could make excuses, because I'm working six days a week now between two different jobs, but really, if I'd had something to say, I probably would have found time. But I've really had nothing to talk about in a public forum, so I just
- [Writing an E-Book in 8 Hours](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-an-e-book-in-8-hours/) - So last night I wrote, edited, formatted, created cover art for, and published an e-book. Well. Last night and this morning, actually. Wednesday at 8:03 p.m. I posted that my social media and email were going dark, because I had an 8-hour challenge to complete. Sometime in the next hour I started a timer for
- [The Weather War #WIPJoy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/weather-war-wipjoy/) - Continuing on from last week's post, I'm going to answer a few more of Bethany A. Jennings' March #WIPJoy questions. There are a few spoilers here for my book Stormseer, so if you haven't read that and don't want to be spoiled, I'd suggest skipping the rest of this blog post. :) 18. Are your characters
- [FINALLY](https://stephaniecainonline.com/finally/) - Lemme tell you, this has been a really crappy NaNo so far. Not for any reason except this: my discipline is broken. I have a plot I love, characters I love, and a setting I absolutely and completely love. I just have no butt-in-chair-ness. But today, I said I was going to hit 10K or
- [NPR's 100 Most Popular Science Fiction & Fantasy novels](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nprs-100-most-popular-science-fiction-fantasy-novels/) - Ganked from a lot of my friends, here's the NPR's Most Popular Sci-Fi & Fantasy novels meme. I voted, and of course am outraged that some of my favorites didn't place very high (or even make the list. WTF where is Paks?!) but I'm pleased that I've read a bunch of these, and today I
- [NaNoWriMo 2010: Day...where are we now?](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2010-day-where-are-we-now/) - So I've been stalled here for the past four days: I did all kinds of plotting on Friday. I scratched out about 10 words Saturday. Didn't even try Sunday. Didn't try last night. Gave the novel to microgirl8225, who's been awesome at kicking me back into gear in the past. Scratched out a couple hundred
- [(Future) Novel Synopsis - The You That Was So Carefully Planned](https://stephaniecainonline.com/future-novel-synopsis-the-you-that-was-so-carefully-planned/) - Been fiddling around at the NaNoWriMo website today, and I write the synopsis for my planned NaNo novel. Thought I'd share it here just for fun: Chloe is Catholic, a cop, and conventional, not necessarily in that order. But when a run-of-the-mill burglary arrest goes bad, she ends up dead. Turns out there are worse
- [NaNoWriMo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo/) - I've got a huge long write-up of the Writers Police Academy I need to post, but in the meantime, I just want to register my excitement about NaNoWriMo tonight. I've been working on the main character since last week, and during the weekend at WPA I got some great ideas. Then today while listening to
- [WOOOHOOOO!!!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wooohoooo/) - 50610 / 50000 words. 101% done! Now I'm going to go to sleep. *FLOMP*
- [Writing is Painful](https://stephaniecainonline.com/ouch-2/) - Oh man, I finally actually went to bed around 10 (added a lot more to my word count though!) and got up at one point during the day to use the toilet, get some water, check my email, then I collapsed again until 6. And now I can't move my head. I must have slept
- [NaNo word count and OMG I need to sleep](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-word-count-and-omg-i-need-to-sleep/) - 25290 / 50000 words. 51% done! Things came together tonight. Suddenly the new direction I needed to take gelled, and I've got a plan again. I need to write out a lot more new plot cards, but I'm very pleased with my progress for the night, simply because I got unstuck. And it is 4:18
- [NaNo Word count](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-word-count-2/) - 26671 / 50000 words. 53% done! 1,381 words today, not as much as I'd hoped, but I required pep talks from slightlyjillian, krycek_chick, and astraea36. Yes, I was needy today. Tomorrow I may take my laptop to Barnes & Noble just to make myself work on the bloody novel instead of surfing the net and
- [NaNo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-2/) - Realized I haven't updated this in a while. Saturday I did 2400 words, Sunday 2200, Monday 1000. Tuesday night (into Wednesday morning) was a good night, with about 6,000 words. Tonight I managed another 1650. 35967 / 50000 words. 72% done! So I'm doing pretty well on NaNo, though it's been a strange month so
- [NaNo Word Count](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-word-count-3/) - Woohoo! Another breakthrough tonight. Of course I'm not writing things in any kind of order, but still, it's good to get words out. 48490 / 50000 words. 97% done!
- [NaNo: Complaints and widgets](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-complaints-and-widgets/) - I love my parents dearly, but I am looking forward to their week of vacation being over. Coming home and finding them both already here, wanting to do something, and then having the past two days off myself (as I am officially done at FL) has absolutely killed my word count. Not that we haven't
- [NaNo Word Count](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-word-count/) - 19358 / 50000 words. 39% done! I can't concentrate anymore. I'm putting in The Two Towers extended edition DVD and going to bed.
- [OMG!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/omg/) - 40,069 / 50,000(80.1%) I CAN REALLY DO THIS!!!!! The latest scenes are posted at theregent. I'm going to keep writing. I'm on a high, and there's no sense stopping while I've got steam left.
- [Eeep!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/eeep/) - 42,226 / 50,000(84.5%) I cannot continue. My eyes are closing on their own...
- [Aaaaaaah!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/aaaaaaah/) - 45,542 / 50,000(91.1%)
- [Word count...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count/) - Okay, I'm not as panicky as before. I'm putting my NaNo thing in here so it will update as I update the count on the NaNo site. I find the graph almost amusing. Heh.
- [NaNo...still pressing on](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-still-pressing-on/) - 22,727 / 50,000(45.5%) I slog forward. I'd hoped for 25k by the end of the night, but...well, oh well. Tomorrow. The cliffhanger from the other night really threw me for a loop, and I'm still replotting. As always, the actual writing is posted and flocked over at theregent.
- [NaNo Novel Soundtrack](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-novel-soundtrack/) - To celebrate reaching 15,000 words, I decided to list a sampling of my NaNo playlist for you all. My full playlist actually includes a lot more Nine Inch Nails, Over the Rhine, and Emilie Autumn, but this is a good overview. Karin Bergquist of Over the Rhine is a good example of Sal Porter's voice.
- [Rambling about NaNo and writing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/rambling-about-nano-and-writing/) - I've discovered that it's not the best idea to have a joint-writing project going on during November if I want to succeed at NaNo. Nori and I have both agreed that it's much more fun to write our joint fanfic project together than it is to write our own individual NaNoWriMo projects. It's not that
- [NaNo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano/) - WC: 1543 Blah. I'm still doing fine, but it's a slow start, just like last year. I feel...unexcited about plot, largely because I don't have one. I have some fabulous characters who are...talking about pants and doing laundry and insulting goth girls. Actually I feel like that goth girl is important, but unless someone dumps
- [Novel update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/novel-update/) - Total WC so far: 85,390
- [2006 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2006-reading-list/) - Hmm. I've read two books already this year, so I suppose I should start the 2006 reading list post. Twilight - Stephanie Meyers Kitty and the Midnight Hour - Carrie Vaughn Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris The Decoy Princess - Dawn Cook Shadowmarch - Tad Williams Bitten and Smitten - Michelle Rowen Poison Study -
- [NaNo Day 30](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-30/) - No, the novel isn't finished yet. I need an extension of a couple of days. But I did make the official word count, so I consider myself a winner. ^_^ Today's WC: 4,872 Total WC: 79,058
- [NaNo Validation](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-validation/) - And love is not the easy thing The only baggage you can bring Love is not the easy thing The only baggage you can bring Is all that you can't leave behind. 77,458 / 50,000 (154.9%) I'm not done with the novel, obviously, but I validated tonight at 77,458 words. I didn't want to get
- [NaNo Day 28](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-28/) - Mmm, I'm on a roll. Don't want to go to bed. WC for Sunday and Monday: 7,873 Total WC: 70,257 70,257 / 85,000 (82.7%)
- [NaNo - PLOT TWIST](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-plot-twist/) - ZOMG. At lunch while pondering the upcoming scene, I had a sudden flash of how I want Fith's character to change. I emailed slightlyjillian, who agreed this was a good choice, and even provided a song that she had heard on the way home, which reminded her of Fith. And suddenly, as I flipped through
- [NaNo Day 25](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-25/) - Total WC: 61,366 Today's WC: 1,194 61,366 / 85,000 (72.2%)
- [NaNo Day 22](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-22/) - Stayed home from work today because I woke up feeling wretched. Slept until 2:30 in the afternoon, then got up and wrote. Took a couple of hours off for TV and to talk with a dear friend, and then back to writing. Yesterday & Today's WC: 6,103 Total WC: 56,569 56,569 / 85,000 (66.6%)
- [NaNo Day 23](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-23/) - Many thanks to slightlyjillian and hhhellcat, both of whom offered needed insights tonight. *snuggles you both* Also, thanks to thesnapelyone for one particular part - you know which. ^_~ Today's WC: 2,013 Total WC: 58,582
- [NaNo Day 17](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-17/) - Total WC: 43,748 Today's WC: 1,461
- [NaNo Day 18](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-18/) - Total WC: 48,049 Today's WC: 4,309 It's not quite where I wanted to be today -- I wanted to hit 50k -- but it's pretty darn good. hercircumstance has given me some good music. Thanks!!!
- [NaNo Day 20](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-20/) - Total WC: 50,466 w00t! Weekend WC: 2,399 50,466 / 85,000 (59.4%) I did finally meet my goal for Friday, though. *sigh* I'm two days behind where I wanted to be, but. Oh well. 50,466 / 50,000 (100.9%)
- [NaNo Update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update/) - I would just like to say that Barnabas is furious at me, Tristan is depressed, and no one else is speaking to me. Steph: *wibbles*
- [NaNo again](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-again/) - Okay, just a bit more. WC today: 7,436 WC total: 36,627
- [NaNo Day 14](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-14/) - Total WC: 40,018 Today's WC: 3,391 40,018 / 85,000 (47.1%)
- [NaNo Day 16](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-16/) - Total WC: 42,279 Today's WC: Ugh. 42,279 / 85,000 (49.7%) I am still determined to hit 50k before Friday is over.
- [GROAAARARRRRRRRR!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/groaaararrrrrrrr/) - Things I have done while NOT writing: - downloaded photos from camera - ogled my birthday present from krycek_chick a lot - stared at the screen - talked with my parents - watched part of As Time Goes By - danced - cleaned up some of my room - stared at the keyboard a lot
- [NaNo Day 10](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-10-2/) - Yes, I'm updating. The hotel had wireless. But honestly, not that I don't love all of you madly, but with my parents watching TV in the room, I had enough distractions and had trouble writing. They are encouraging of my writing, but not conducive. Heh. Today's WC: 3,612 Total WC: 23,276 Meter for my goal:
- [NaNo Day 11](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-11/) - Updating for yesterday! Total WC: 26,066 Friday's WC: 2,790 Almost all of that word count was written in the back seat of my car on our way home from Michigan. Whee.
- [NaNo Day 13](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-13/) - Total WC: 35,058 Today's WC: 5,867 My goal: 35,058 / 85,000 (41.2%) To win NaNo: 35,058 / 50,000 (70.1%)
- [NaNo Day 6](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-6/) - 9,529 / 85,000 (11.2%) Today's WC: 4,203 Total WC: 9,529
- [NaNo Day 7](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-7/) - It's thundering again. *sigh* Today's WC: 2,601 Overall WC: 12,130 12,130 / 85,000 (14.3%)
- [NaNo Day 8 - w00t!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-8-w00t/) - Today's WC: 5,024 Total WC: 17,154 17,154 / 85,000 (20.2%) Apologies to those who wanted to catch me tonight. I got in a groove writing and entirely forgot to watch the two television shows to which I am utterly addicted, as well as forgetting to look at the clock.
- [NaNo Day 9](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-9/) - 19,664 / 85,000 (23.1%) WC today: 2,510 WC todal: 19,664 Can you believe I'm going to bed this close to 20k? But I'm exhausted, and sleepy, and...Yeah, I just want to sleep. Tomorrow, probably no update, because I am going to be overnight at a meeting location, and the hotel may not have internet. Hopefully
- [NaNo Day 3](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-3/) - Ack, just woke up at the computer. O.o 2,778 / 85,000 (3.3%) WC: 2778 At least I dreamed about Barnabas and Tristan last night. Hopefully I will again tonight.
- [NaNo Day 4](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-4/) - Total WC: 4119 Today's: 1341 4,119 / 85,000 (4.8%) This scene was stubborn. What happened was...unexpected. Thanks to slightlyjillian for encouragement and keeping me awake. Oh, yeah, and I used the Dictionary.com word of the day in this scene. Go me.
- [NaNo Day 5](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-5-2/) - WC: 5,326 5,326 / 85,000 (6.3%)
- [NaNo Research](https://stephaniecainonline.com/33/) - While I was on break this morning I spoke with our art director. Told her I have a character who's a rich young bachelor philanthropist who wants to support the arts in his community. She gave me some ideas of how he would spend his time and money. Networking is an author's best friend, man.
- [NaNo Day 1](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-1/) - 430 / 85,000 (0.5%) WC: 430 LOL - what a start, eh? But since it was just last night that the plot bunny bit, I spent much of my writing time today plotting and such. Tomorrow I expect a prodigious word count. *grins*
- [NaNo Day 2](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-2/) - 1,439 / 85,000 (1.7%) WC: 1439 The third day is where I started kicking NaNo's ass last year. Let's hope that holds true for this year, too. BUT - I now have plot cards written up through the second major plot twist -- and that's about 2/3 of the way through the novel. W00t!
- [Waffling on NaNoWriMo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/waffling-on-nanowrimo/) - So I have some opportunities here. And as it is the last day before NaNoWriMo begins, I feel it is time to confront these matters. I have to decide what I'm going to write. Until a week and a half ago I was wibbling over lack of plottiness in my Regent's series, the first two
- [NaNo thoughts and word counts](https://stephaniecainonline.com/320/) - arcaedia gave some useful information, in this entry, regarding word counts for novels. I'm excited, as last night the discovery of an absolutely lovely Waterboys song gave me my title idea for NaNo. I always do better once I have a good title. It gives me an idea of the theme for the novel. I
- [NaNoWriMo Links](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-links/) - A fun wordcount meter The Zokutou Clause for those of you who have won at NaNo once already.
- [2005 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2005-reading-list/) - Okay, I'm going to be updating this all through the year (I hope...if I remember) so I can keep track of what I've read. A Hidden Magic - Vivian Vande Velde Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling Sword-Dancer - Jennifer Roberson (a re-read from years ago because she wrote a
- [NaNo Update: Day 18](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-18/) - It always feels funny to look at the date, and then use the number of the day before. Because, you know, it's the 19th here, but I am posting from Day 18, because I do a good portion of my writing from 11 pm to 1:30 am. I suppose the only time that's really bad
- [NaNo Update: Day 20  (The BIG day!)](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-20-the-big-day/) - Woo-hoo! Crossed the official word-count finish line tonight! Go me! 50,016 / 50,000 (100.0%) (after today my progress bar will change to reflect a 100,000 word goal, but for tonight I wanted to enjoy this. ^_^ ) Today's Word Count: 2,488 Overall Word Count: 50,016
- [NaNo update: Day 17](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-17/) - 44,506 / 50,000 (89.0%) Today's Word Count: 1,742 Overall Word Count: 44,506 I realized tonight that I don't have plot cards written for several important upcoming scenes. So I'll have to do that before I write any more, I think. Man, I am starving.
- [NaNo Update, Day 11](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-11/) - 33,053 / 50,000 (66.1%) Today's Word Count: 3,846 Overall Word Count: 33,053 Holy crap, I may make my 100k goal after all! Yes, some of this took me by surprise, too. Nothing big, but, just a couple of things. Oh, and any of you who are more familiar than I am with downtown Chicago (read:
- [Me/Barnes and Noble](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mebarnes-and-noble/) - I love Barnes & Noble. They do miraculous things for my word count. krycek_chick, I think this will make you forgive me. ^_~ 40,478 / 50,000 (81.0%) Today's Word Count: 6,540 Overall Word Count: 40,478
- [NaNo update: Day 15](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-15/) - Today's Word Count: 415 Overall Word Count: 40,893 This is a very short scene, most of which was written during class while I was trying not to pay attention to their discussion of the homework I haven't done yet (because I wasn't at class last week). Anyway, I have an orthodontist appointment tomorrow at 9:30,
- [NaNo Update: Day 16](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-16/) - 42,764 / 50,000 (85.5%) Today's Word Count: 1,871 Overall Word Count: 42,764 I am really tired! In fact, I about fell asleep in the wing chair, with my laptop in my lap. I can just see me having a nightmare and dumping the laptop on the floor. Plus now I have started sneezing and stuff,
- [W to the 00t!  NaNo StatusDay 9](https://stephaniecainonline.com/w-to-the-00t-nano-statusday-9/) - 25,013 / 50,000 (50.0%) Today's Word Count: 5,886 Overall Word Count: 25,013 See, I had a workshop in Indy today, so I rode to town with Dad. Which put me in Indy at 7 am, although my workshop started at 9:30 am. Then I got out of said workshop at 3:30 pm, and Dad worked
- [NaNo Day 10](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-10/) - Holy Heaven, is it 3 am already?!? Okay, past time for this update and bed... 29,207 / 50,000 (58.4%) Today's Word Count: 3,558 Overall Word Count: 29,207 Well, the characters have taken over. Thank God, because it's so much fun to sit back and watch them act.
- [Day 5 NaNo Update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/day-5-nano-update/) - PASSED THE 10K MARK! WOO-HOO!!!!! 10,423 / 50,000 (20.8%) Today's Word Count: 3178 Overall Word Count: 10423
- [NaNo Day 6 Status](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-6-status/) - 12,017 / 50,000 (24.0%) Today's Word Count: 1594 Overall Word Count: 12017 I am falling asleep at my computer. I suppose that only makes sense; I have, after all, been awake for almost 40 hours straight now. I'm pretty happy with the progress on the novel so far this weekend. I have to do a
- [NaNo Update, Day 7](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-7/) - 15,537 / 50,000 (31.1%) Total Word Count: 15,537 Today's Word Count: 3,240 I totally love Barnes & Noble. I got more written in two hours in their cafe than I have any other day so far this month. I now plan to spend every Sunday afternoon there, making up whatever ground I've lost during the
- [NaNo Progress: Day 8](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-progress-day-8/) - 19,127 / 50,000 (38.3%) Today's word count: 3590!!! Overall word count: 19127 Woo-hoo! Wrote three scenes tonight, and am still amazed at myself. Of course it probably has something to do with the fact that I have to get up in approximately four hours if I want to ride to Indy with Dad for my
- [NaNo Day 2 - Not too productive](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-2-not-too-productive/) - 2,466 / 50,000 (4.9%) Today's word count: 657 Total word count: 2466 I blame the election. I got so wrapped up in monitoring election results (even though I swore I wasn't going to) that I didn't get as much written. I did finally get into the groove of the story a bit--the shift in POV
- [Day 3: Word Count](https://stephaniecainonline.com/day-3-word-count/) - Weird. I think it's thundering out there. It's a strange kind of booming noise, so it might just be the wind, but I think it's thunder, so I need to get offline and unplug my laptop. I'm going to keep writing, but I want to protect Frodo from the lightning. 3,398 / 50,000 (6.8%) Today's
- [Yesterday's Official Word Count](https://stephaniecainonline.com/yesterdays-official-word-count/) - 4,943 / 50,000 (9.9%) Total word count: 4943 Yesterday's word count: 2477 So if I can manage my daily goal today (3333 words) then I'll be much closer to being back on track. *sigh* Please note: This post is for YESTERDAY. I just had to post it today because I disconnected because of the thunderstorm.
- [WOO-HOO!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/woo-hoo/) - Today was a good day for me in NaNo-land! Tonight I realized what is going to be the pivotal moment that sets events in motion for this book. Whoo! I sat down and wrote out plot cards for the rest of the novel! Not that it'll be completely smooth sailing from here on out, but
- [NaNoWriMo Survey](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-survey/) - So I made a survey for Wrimos to start sharing tidbits of their novels - or start thinking about tidbits of the novel! I didn't have some of these answers until I filled it out myself. ^_~ Anyway, behind the cut, for your reading pleasure, is my NaNo survey. Main CharacterNameEdmund OmbryGenderMaleAgeSeems: 32 Actually: 82OccupationWriterHobbiesHorseback
- [Memes: NaNoWriMo and Firefly](https://stephaniecainonline.com/memes-nanowrimo-and-firefly/) - This is a NaNoWriMo meme I got from sparkyred last year, and I liked it so much I thought I'd update it for this year. BASIC STATS: NaNo ID: Carfiniel NaNo since: 2003 Working title: A Little Less Wild WIP Genre: Dark urban/modern fantasy with a spiritual frisson Projected word count: 100,000 AT THE START:
- [NaNo Status Report](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-status-report/) - Day 1 Word Count: 1809 1,809 / 50,000 (3.6%) * According to the NaNoWriMo Report Card, I have written 4% of the 50k required. Unfortunately I can't figure out a way for it to tell me how close I am to my personal 100k goal, but since my number is twice the general goal, that's
- [2003 Reading List (Partial)](https://stephaniecainonline.com/205/) - Hey, sparkyred gave me this idea: The Path- Laurie Beth Jones The Game- Theresa Toten Magician's Ward- Patricia C. Wrede Saladin- can't remember Over the Edge- Gloria M. something Child of the Prophecy- Juliet Marillier A Grief Observed- C.S. Lewis Matilda Bone- Karen Cushman True Enough- Lauren Brooke Magic's Price- Mercedes Lackey Crime Scene Investigations-
- [Word Count: 14,547](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-14547/) - Yes, I know what time it is. Yes, I'm starving. Yes, I'm about to go to bed for about five hours before I have to get up and get ready for church. Yes, there's a good chance my mother is already awake and out of bed (okay, so it's not likely, but it's still possible).
- [Word Count: 16,336](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-16336/) - Earlier today I sat down and just belted out this word count. Then my parents got home and I talked with them for a while, and Mom needed to use my computer for a bit, and I got sidetracked. Then Dad and I had to have the budget discussion he's been too busy for the
- [Word Count: 11,620](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-11620/) - I know I didn't get quite as many words written tonight as I wanted. Oh well, I nearly made it to 1000. I unfortunately got side-tracked by many things. However, one exciting thing that happened tonight, while I was reading up on all the different dogs in Faerie (and scaring myself silly, I might add)--I
- [NaNoWriMo soundtrack](https://stephaniecainonline.com/127/) - Heh. I now have a Word file with the list of songs on my NaNo soundtrack. And a Word file with all the lyrics of said songs. And I've gone and renamed the files so they won't load in a funny order from the CD (because it was easier to do that than to try
- [Word Count: 12.202](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-12-202/) - No, I'm not making progress quickly. Grr. Am chatting with tulip_head. It is fun, and I'm glad she's back online. But I'm about to bid her goodnight because it is waaaay past my bedtime, as usual, and she works nights. ^_^
- [Word Count: 12,846](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-12846/) - Only 663 words tonight. I successfully procrastinated enough to avoid any furthering of the plot. Go me. I did figure out why the Cwn Annwn targeted Zeva for their quarry, though. Yay. I am falling asleep at my desk chair, and considering how sleep deprived I have been of late anyway, and the fact that
- [Word Count: 6718](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-6718/) - Bah. I think it's obvious what happened to my word count tonight. Frelling television is what happeened. Grr. Still, I got another 775 words written tonight. I swear, I'm going to kick ass next week when I am living by myself. Cereal for supper every night and no chores except the trash on Monday night.
- [Word Count: 10133](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-10133/) - W00t! I have passed the 10000 word barrier today! Only four days late, of course, and I am still 5000 words behind, but at least today I managed to sit down and write! I had some great ideas Friday about the Sidhe, and today I managed to name the Leanan-Sidhe (Taidgh, which is pronounced like
- [Word Count: 10713](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-10713/) - Argh. Only wrote 580 words tonight. I wanted to write about 1000. But then again, I had dinner with Kim and her mom, and then came home and gathered the garbage, and then chatted with slightlyjillian for quite a while (she did finish my novel. Mwahaha.). And still managed to write 580 words. So I
- [Word Count:  4547](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-4547/) - I decided the med student was going to be a man instead of a woman. Hence, Cedric, the lovable Trickster who has nicknamed everyone, and will soon nickname Zeva as well. Okay, I am going to go collapse now.
- [Critique partners are awesome](https://stephaniecainonline.com/120/) - Okay, here it is, twenty till midnight, and I've written not a single word in the NaNovel today. I suck. On the other hand, talked with slightlyjillian for an hour and half, mostly about the novel it took me twelve years to write, and I have a lot of exciting and constructive ideas. Her feedback
- [Word Count: 5943](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-5943/) - Words today: 1337 Not bad. It's still 1663 short of my aspiration, but that's okay. I'm counting this as November 5's words, even though it's officially November 6 now. I got my second wind sometime around midnight, and just kept writing. I spent much of a pointless meeting today plotting the next several scenes of
- [Characters](https://stephaniecainonline.com/characters/) - Poppy Dannert - 32 (?) has brown hair, hazel eyes, freckles totally grossed out by people who don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom--and makes a habit of embarrassing said people Hears music from nowhere (somewhere in one of my idea files I have this story idea scribbled down; I need to go
- [NaNoWriMeme](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimeme/) - Taken from sparkyred. BASIC STATS: NaNo ID: Carfiniel NaNo since: Last week Working title: For the Grace Go I WIP Genre: Dark urban/modern fantasy with a spiritual frisson Projected word count: Hopefully 85,000 or so (2850 a day) AT THE START: DO YOU... Have an Outline? Not exactly Scene-by-scene? Nope Know how it starts? I
- [Word Count: 670](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-670/) - Ehhh. I am falling asleep at my computer. I think it's time to pack itt in. Of course, I managed to spend a great deal more time than I should have, looking through an old journal for ideas. I found ideas, but still. Here's the prologue: Prologue He watched in satisfaction as the flames found
- [WC: 2701](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wc-2701/) - Okay, I know I'm getting off to a slow start. That might have something to do with the fact that I had plans for the entire day yesterday, and better than half the day today. But I've got the first scene of chapter one written.
- [Writing procrastination](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-procrastination/) - I should be writing. Yet, even though I am enjoying the NaNo challenge, I am still procrastinating. Why do I do this? Why? Why do I procrastinate on the fun things as well as the horrid things? And why haven't I taken the trash out yet?
- [NaNoWriMo Characters](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-characters/) - Here are some of the players on my stage: Fithian Rankin - 35, nicknamed Fith scion of a wealthy family (wealth comes from where?) angry about the death of his mother 19 years ago why did she die? unnatural/mysterious death curse? dark magic? dabbles with Internet consulting of some sort - doesn't necessarily need the
- [NaNo Minus One-Ten and Counting](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-minus-one-ten/) - ...so this happened. Pirate is my default at Halloween. I think it's because pirates can be pretty and fierce at the same time. And also pretty fierce. Also, it's remarkably easy to be a pirate with stuff I already have, which says something about my wardrobe choices. Anyway, being a pirate all day made me
- [Storytelling...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/storytelling/) - Okay, so I owe a couple of stories to people. First of all, the two truths and a lie... It is a lie that I have smoked pot with my best friend's husband. I've never smoked pot. In fact once I was offered it most insistently at a Dave Matthews Band concert by some friendly
- [Book Rec: FAE - anthology edited by Rhonda Parrish](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-fae-anthology-edited-rhonda-parrish/) - Book reviews aren't my mainstay here on the blog, but I like to tell people about books I enjoyed, and I have to say that FAE is one of my favorite reads this summer. I read it just after it released, and weeks later, some of the stories are still sticking with me. This was a well-selected
- [2014 Reading List](https://stephaniecainonline.com/2014-reading-list/) - Every year I keep a list of books that I read over the course of the year. In 2014 I was using GoodReads to do that, so didn't record the books I reread. I reread books a lot, so I'm going to keep a separate list for 2015 that includes rereads. Anyway. I didn't quite
- [Current Reading](https://stephaniecainonline.com/current-reading/) - Two weeks ago I went to Midwest Writers Conference in Muncie, Indiana. It was an amazing time, and I need to do a proper conference writeup at some point soon, but I've been working my tail off since the conference, and in the best way possible. I've been reading. :) After a brief conversation with a very
- [We call this..."working"](https://stephaniecainonline.com/we-call-this-working/) - *cue hysterical laughter* Sometimes it seems like I'll do anything to avoid writing, whether subconsciously or not. For the past few weeks I've been on a crusade against dust kitties and unused junk in the house. A couple of weeks ago I got a new Dirt Devil vacuum and have been cleaning with a vengeance
- [Stormshadow Amazon Countdown Sale](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormshadow-amazon-countdown-sale/) - As a mid-winter gift to my readers, I've set up an Amazon Countdown deal that started this morning! Right now the price of the Stormshadow ebook is $0.99, and that price will last until tomorrow at 7 pm EST. The price will go to $1.99 at that time, and it'll stay $1.99 until December 21 at midnight PST.
- [Read My Books for Free](https://stephaniecainonline.com/read-my-books-for-free/) - One of the hardest things about being an indie author is getting people to read your book. I know, I’m stating the obvious. But obscurity is a bigger problem for indie authors than piracy. At least if people are pirating your book, you know there must be a demand! One important factor in getting people
- [Never Plan a Road Trip During NaNoWriMo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/never-plan-road-trip-nanowrimo/) - Oops, I forgot to tell you guys what NaNoWriMo project I picked. I decided to go with my urban fantasy story that wants to be a novel. It involves a lot of small-town Indiana settings and characters I really like. It also has an overwhelmingly female cast. It's a lot of fun, but let me
- [NaNoWriMo 2015 Winner](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-2015-winner/) - I did it! I won NaNoWriMo 2015! Whew. It was a hard-fought struggle sometimes. At one point I accidentally deleted a scene that I'd planned to delete after November, but had already written. Those were 1500 or so words I had to replace with 1500 better words. But I battled through the 35k NaNoWriMo Despair, and
- [Day 9 Word Count](https://stephaniecainonline.com/day-9-word-count/) - 10377 / 50000 words. 21% done! Woohoo! I earned my "Procrastination" NaNoWriMo Merit Badge over the weekend by cleaning instead of working on the novel while skipping writing for three days in a row. Today I earned my "Secret Noveling" badge by writing at work. Yes, yes, I know. *cough* Now that I've hit 10k
- [NaNo Day 12](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-12/) - 17561 / 50000 words. 35% done! I'm traveling on historically shaky ground tonight, because I don't know much about the Roaring Twenties. But I had a good writing day. 3,739 words just today! Also, the formatting is a little strange because I'm writing in Q10, which saves files as .txt. Keeps me more focused, though,
- [NaNo Day 17](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-17-2/) - 27378 / 50000 words. 55% done! Whew! The goblin market was a great idea yesterday, and the magic hat and gloves was a great idea today. From now on I'm going to put on my magic hat if I get stuck. I know it'll get me unstuck. I had a 5,000-word day today, and that
- [Wrimos report!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wrimos-report/) - I went on a friending spree because of cindale's NaNo entry, which also inspired this entry. Okay, I know a bunch of you are doing NaNoWriMo. If you aren't listed below, and you're participating, let me know! ginnysdarkside alpha_hannah cindale empressvesica (new to my flist) larinzia (also new) Also, if you're not doing NaNo but
- [NaNo tools and tricks](https://stephaniecainonline.com/175/) - If you're doing NaNo and you're against the wall, go look at nano_icons. It won't get rid of your writer's block, but it will amuse you. That's where I got my latest crop of NaNo and writing icons, including this one. Hee. IcyHot has made these funky sleeves you can wear to ice your wrists.
- [NaNo Update: Day 21](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-21/) - Huh. I knew I shouldn't have listened to Mom when she said, "Oh, you don't need to write at Barnes & Noble!" Yes, actually I do need to go to BN once a week for my writing session. Otherwise I spend the writing time like I did today--on LJ, email, playing that damned Snood, etc.
- [Characters Suck](https://stephaniecainonline.com/189/) - Dammit. These characters that wouldn't shut up last night? Not. Cooperating. Tonight. ARGH!
- [NaNo Update - Day 23](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-23/) - Have switched Progress Bar to show my 100k goal...though I'm thinking about revising that 100k to 80k or thereabouts. I'm not sure this novel needs 100k. 54,757 / 100,000 (54.8%) Today's Word Count: 4,141 (how cool is that number?!) Overall Word Count: 54,757 Okay, I'm throwing in the towel and going to bed. The
- [NaNo Drabbles](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-drabbles/) - Heh. Have been playing with The Drabble-Matic. Loads of fun. I used the two main characters from my NaNo novel and got a couple of almost coherent drabbles. Except, ignore that "brother" thing, because that is SO not true. Heh. My favourite is "The Adventure of the Butterfly". To Carefully Reach Edmund and Zeva were
- [Official NaNo Update - Day 25](https://stephaniecainonline.com/official-nano-update-day-25/) - 61,385 / 100,000 (61.4%) Today's Word Count: 5,610 Overall Word Count: 61,385 Okay, I have to go to bed, because I'm supposed to be getting up in about five hours to go to Gedna's house (that's Dad's mom). Not that I'm excited about this, but it is familial duty and all that. Besides, I am
- [NaNo Update - Day 26](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-26/) - I shall blame any lack of writing time on copperbadge, who is an evil man who linked to an evil game on his LiveJournal. ^_~ 64,552 / 100,000 (64.6%) Today's Word Count: 3,167 Overall Word Count: 64,552 Finished the big climax scene today, as well as writing one of the denouement scenes. (Heh, I just
- [NaNo Winner, right here. ^_^](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-winner-right-here-_/) - I validated today. Not that I'm officially finished with the novel, but I decided it was time to validate so I wouldn't forget. ^_^ Heh, as if there was any chance of that happening. Okay, sorry, krycek_chick, I will get back to writing. ^____^
- [NaNo Update - Day 27](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-27/) - Technically this might be considered Day 28, since I wrote all night...but I just woke up at my desk, and decided it's probably time to get some sleep. So I'll be doing some more writing later today. So. Saturday's Word Count: 3,227 Overall Word Count: 67,779 I didn't quite make it to 70k before falling
- [NaNo Frustrations](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-frustrations/) - It's amazing how difficult it is proving to finish writing this darned novel! I can't get this scene to wrap up, and until I do, I can't move on to the next scene, which I anticipate might be a wee bit easier to write. GRR! Seriously, I have like FOUR scenes to write, plus this
- [NaNo Update - Day 28](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-day-28/) - Whew! Getting close now! 70,339 / 100,000 (70.3%) Today's Word Count: 2,560 Overall Word Count: 70,339
- [NaNo Update:  FINISHED!!!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-update-finished/) - 76,208 / 75,000 (101.6%) Today's Word Count: 5,869 FINAL Word Count: 76,208 I am more excited than I can possibly express. Yes, it is 4 in the morning, and you'll see my own little joke in the last scene, because that's damn late (or early, if you want to look at it that way),
- [Word Count: 17,920](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-17920/) - Huzzah for me! I got more written, and the story took a turn I wasn't anticipating. I didn't think Well, I won't give anything away. ^_^ Total word count for today: 3,343 - not quite as much as I would've liked, but taken with the word count from a week ago, it proves that Sunday
- [Word Count: 20,002!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-20002/) - Go me! Broke 20k. That was my goal for tonight. Working on For the Grace Go I earlier, on the playlist "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan was playing. And as it played, I was writing about a character falling, and being caught be someone else -- "In the arms of the angel may you find some
- [NaNoWriMo Word Count: 21,181](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-word-count-21181/) - Total words today: 1,178 Not bad, considering I also watched The Two Towers: extended cut in its entirety. I had too little faith in my wonderful Geeky Dad. I must find some way to do penance for this. I'm not posting what I wrote tonight, because the scene isn't finished. But I am exhausted and
- [Total Word Count - 23,528](https://stephaniecainonline.com/total-word-count-23528/) - Tonight's word count - 2,341. Half of those typed with my eyes closed. I am falling asleep at the computer again. But I got the scene written. Yay! Megan takes over the story, and Poppy has more adventures. ^_^
- [Motivation, or Lack Thereof](https://stephaniecainonline.com/138/) - Tonight I feel no ability to write the next scene in my book. (Sorry, tulip_head!) While I was waiting on the doctor this afternoon I did a good thirty minutes' worth of plotting, and so when I cam home (a happy writer with prescriptions for steroids and muscle relaxants!) I sat down and wrote out
- [Total Word Count - 25,491](https://stephaniecainonline.com/total-word-count-25491/) - I am halfway done with the required word count! Go me! I'm frankly amazed that I've written 65 pages so quickly. This is just rockin'. I may have to do NaNoWriMo every year, just because it makes me plant butt (painfully) in chair and WRITE. Words written today - 1,963. I had to fight to
- [Word Count - 31,391](https://stephaniecainonline.com/word-count-31391/) - Okay, major writing session today. The daily word count is the highest yet - 5745. Go me. I can tell the Prednizone is working, because my butt and leg haven't hurt hardly at all today. Yippee. Also my wrists are feeling better, which means that - as I had hoped - the anti inflammatories are
- [Total word count - 33,374](https://stephaniecainonline.com/total-word-count-33374/) - I'm very proud of myself. I wanted to be at 33K by the end of the week, and I will let today count as that - even though I traditionally think of Sunday as the first day of the new week. Anyway I got home at 9:40 from the church Celebration Gathering banquet, and I
- [Total Word Count - 37,039](https://stephaniecainonline.com/total-word-count-37039/) - Today's word count - 3635. Not too bad, considering I had pleasant distractions from hercircumstance and slightlyjillian. And considering that I got distracted reading Robert Browning and Oscar Wilde and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. And am choking on snot because I am yawning too much. Mwahaha. I end on a cliffhanger.
- [Total Word Count - 40,797](https://stephaniecainonline.com/total-word-count-40797/) - Today's word count - 3,761. W00t! I found out tonight why the Sidhe are so particularly interested in Zeva! YAY! Thank you, Taidgh, for finally revealing that information! *wipes away sweatdrops* Okay, tulip_head, I'm updating as we speak! ^_^ I do hope you like this segment. And it should please my best friend, too, because
- [Total word count - 44,619](https://stephaniecainonline.com/total-word-count-44619/) - Today's word count - 3,822 My goal for tonight was 45,000. But I just can't stay awake any longer. My head hurts, and I can't keep my eyes open. It's been a real struggle tonight. I stayed in Zeva's point of view through three different scenes, and it proved to be a challenge, even though
- [Total Word Count - 47,025](https://stephaniecainonline.com/total-word-count-47025/) - Today's word count - 2192. No update tonight. I'm not finished with the scene. I just woke up at the scene keyboard again. I'm so tired I don't know what words I'm typing. G'night.
- [Made my NaNoWriMo word count!!!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/made-my-nanowrimo-word-count/) - Go me!
- [Soooo close...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/150/) - Woohoo. Only 2,000 more words to go to make my NaNoWriMo word count. Of course, the story isn't anywhere near finished, but that's okay. I just saw that it's currently snowing where I'm going tomorrow. Wah.
- [NaNoing but falling asleep...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/152/) - Still working on the NaNoWriMo novel. I passed my word count but haven't finished telling the story yet. Unfortunately I can't stop yawning enough to wipe away tears (from yawning, not sadness) so I have to go to bed. Probably has something to do with the Flexeril I took a couple of hours ago, huh?
- [Today's word count - 1121](https://stephaniecainonline.com/todays-word-count-1121/) - Well, despite the determination of Shawn Christian, the amazingly sexy star of Undercover Christmas, I managed to write a scene for Grace. I'm sure I would've written much more if I hadn't watched the movie, but it was good, and I have a new Christmas classic. Ha ha, new classic, an oxymoron. Yes, I am
- [Editing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/editing/) - I hope this entry still sounds coherent when my Benadryl wears off. I’ve been suffering a violent allergy attack all day, which for me involves a plethora of violent sneezes in addition to congestion and itchy eyes and nose. The rest of it I can deal with, but the sneezing isn’t helped by Benadryl. Oddly
- [Murdering my darlings and more](https://stephaniecainonline.com/murdering-my-darlings-and-more/) - Last week I got fantastic feedback from a semi-new friend. We met via Twitter in December and discovered we had similar writing taste as well as a lot of other things in common. Then we met randomly in person when we discovered we had a connection through my job. So when I finished my latest
- [My CafePress store](https://stephaniecainonline.com/lots-of-things-including-my-cafepress-store-a-new-layout-and-music/) - I have opened a Cafe Press store!!! I've made some products using some of the pictures I posted on my LJ the other day, of Shades State Park and Pine Hills Nature Preserve. I'm going to be expanding and updating the store, and if you're interested in having a certain picture on a particular product,
- [EEK!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/172/) - Ack! A spider just came crawling out on my keyboard tray! It was trying to get me! AHHHHHH! Sheesh.
- [Spiders EWW](https://stephaniecainonline.com/spiders-eww/) - GRAH THERE IS A SPIDER ON MY WALL RIGHT UP BY THE CEILING AND I CAN'T REACH IT WITH THE FLYSWATTER UNLESS I CLIMB ON THE DESK AND THAT PUTS ME FAR FAR TOO CLOSE TO IT EW EW EW EW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ugh. I am currently wibbling at two people about the spider to put off
- [Book Rec: SCARECROW edited by Rhonda Parrish](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-scarecrow-edited-by-rhonda-parrish/) - Scarecrow is Rhonda Parrish's third Magical Menagerie anthology, released as a sort of partner and complement to Corvidae. The works are largely unrelated to those of Corvidae (reviewed here), but they carry similar themes, since crows and scarecrows go together like peanut butter and jelly. Or maybe I should say chocolate and bourbon. Because this
- [BOOK REC: Corvidae, edited by Rhonda Parrish](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-corvidae-rhonda-parrish/) - You might remember how much I enjoyed Rhonda Parrish's first anthology Fae (reviewed here), and earlier this year I was fortunate enough to score an e-ARC of her second Magical Menagerie anthology, Corvidae. I've finally (finally!) gotten around to writing up and posting my review, and I want to share it here as well. Corvidae is
- [Storms in Amethir Trilogy Giveaway](https://stephaniecainonline.com/storms-in-amethir-trilogy-giveaway/) - Are you feeling lucky? I'm giving away a signed set of the Storms in Amethir trilogy paperbacks! Starting today and running through November 11 (my mom's birthday), I'll be taking entries for a signed set! I'm running the giveaway through Rafflecopter, so if you follow my blog with a feed reader, make sure you click through and check it out
- [ACPL Author Fair Picture](https://stephaniecainonline.com/acpl-author-fair-picture/) - I had a great time at the Allen County Public Library Author Fair! I talked to a lot of great people, including authors all along the spectrum, from those just starting out on their first story to those who have published several books. It was so much fun, and it's encouraging to had had such
- [Storms in Amethir giveaway winner!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/storms-in-amethir-giveaway-winner/) - I'm excited to announce the winner of the signed Storms in Amethir series. Congratulations to Jeremy D! I've sent you an email with instructions on collecting your prize, Jeremy. I wish I could give a set to everyone who entered the contest. Since I can't, I'd like to offer a coupon code. Regardless of what
- [Lafayette Event: TCPL Authors' Fair](https://stephaniecainonline.com/lafayette-author-fair/) - A week from today I'll be participating in the Tippecanoe County Public Library Authors' Fair! If you live near Lafayette, Indiana, stop by at the downtown branch between 10 am and 4 pm on April 11. I'll have copies of Stormshadow and Sow the Wind available for purchase and I'm looking forward to chatting! What: TCPL Authors' Fair
- [I need NaNo help](https://stephaniecainonline.com/i-need-nano-help/) - So I had been planning to write the fourth book in the Regent's Castle series this year for NaNo. This would involve lots of research into Illinois history, because I'm planning to weave in white settlement, Native American threads, and European ideas of Faerie, and hopefully along the way come up with a reason the
- [Music and Writing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/music-and-writing/) - Over the past month, I've been revisiting a story I wrote several years ago. It has a nice premise, but the story itself was sort of a wreck. There was very little in the way of plot, and no conclusion at all. The characters and setting were both strong, and I think the mood carried
- [Stormshadow Goodreads giveaway!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stormshadow-goodreads-giveaway/) - I'm excited to be giving away two copies of Stormshadow on Goodreads! Make sure you enter to win a copy! Goodreads Book Giveaway Stormshadow by Stephanie Cain Giveaway ends July 01, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
- [Added some lifelist birds today](https://stephaniecainonline.com/added-some-lifelist-birds-today/) - Went to Pine Creek Important Bird Area with the parents today. Mom and I have been meaning to get up there during the fall migration for three years now, and this year finally managed it. I'm not sure why Dad goes along on bird-watching expeditions, because he spent most of the day sitting in the
- [Book Review: Self-Publishers Ultimate Resource Guide](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-review-self-publishers-ultimate-resource-guide/) - I had the opportunity this week to review the Self-Publishers Ultimate Resource Guide (Amazon affiliate link) by Joel Friedlander and Betty Kelly Sargent. First off, I'll say that I was given a free digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. But I'll follow that up by saying that I think $7.99 is a good
- [Book rec - The Privilege of the Sword](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-rec-the-privilege-of-the-sword/) - In a fit of depression over the end of HP I went to Barnes & Noble with my parents, and Dad, feeling bad for me, bought me two books. Haven't started the Roberson book, because the cover and concept of The Privilege of the Sword intrigued me too much. I knew Ellen Kushner had written
- [Book Review: Book Marketing Is Dead](https://stephaniecainonline.com/book-review-book-marketing-dead/) - How do you market a self-published book into a best-seller? Start with the absolute best book you can produce. This isn't really a new idea--marketing experts have long been touting the importance of having a good cover design, professional editing, and excellent back copy--but it doesn't end there. Author Derek Murphy starts out Book Marketing Is
- [Event Added: Allen County Public Library Author Fair](https://stephaniecainonline.com/event-added-allen-county-public-library-author-fair/) - I'm very excited to announce that I'll be participating in Allen County Public Library's 2014 Author Fair this November! If you live near Fort Wayne, this is a great chance to come see me and other authors, buy signed copies of our books, and sit in on panel discussions! Laura VanArendonk Baugh and I will be participating
- [Self-Pub 101: Lessons Learned (Part 1)](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-pub-101-lessons-learned-part-one/) - This is the third in a series of blog posts where I talk about my experiences with self-publishing and learning how to be an indie author. This post in particular was prompted by a question my friend J asked me: "Did you learn anything publishing Stormsinger that you'll do differently in future?" Did I ever.
- [Self-Pub 101: Lessons Learned (Part 2)](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-pub-101-lessons-learned-part-2/) - Last week, as part of my continuing series Self-Pub 101, I wrote about some of the lessons I had learned during the process of self-publishing my fiction. This week I'm continuing with specifically the pricing and marketing lessons I've learned. (Warning: This is a Very Long Blog Post.) Pricing One of the best things about
- [Self-Pub 101: An Indie Author's Introduction to Self-Publishing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/self-pub-101-self-publishing/) - I've mentioned before how I sort of fell accidentally into the self-publishing world. (Or, more accurately, how Laura VanArendonk Baugh pushed me into the self-publishing world.) I've never really talked about why I made the decision to go for it, what resources I used, what I wish I'd known beforehand, and what I've learned from
- [My new addiction](https://stephaniecainonline.com/new-addiction/) - When I learned we were losing our Staples in my town, I thought I would go into withdrawal. And I guess I have, sort of...except that I've found a drug to replace Staples. It's called JetPens, and they've made a lot of money from me lately. Japan really is the land of awesome stationery (and
- [Low Head](https://stephaniecainonline.com/low-head/) - "Low Head" on Google Video Every year, low head dams account for many deaths in the US. This video shows how to avoid such dams, and using a dam simulator shows how people and boats can get caught at the base of a dam. Note: I should note that this link is because of research
- [If this isn't the pit of despair, it's the gap or at least the crevice of it](https://stephaniecainonline.com/if-this-isnt-the-pit-of-despair-its-the-gap-or-at-least-the-crevice-of-it/) - Today was going to be my 5,000-word day. It had to be. I really wanted to be caught up to 25k by the end of the weekend, but I spent all yesterday doing genealogy of my main character since I needed to know who was alive when in order to write their segments. Instead today
- [Trailer for FOREVER](https://stephaniecainonline.com/trailer-for-forever/) - Cannot wait for m_stiefvater's next book, Forever, to hit shelves! Check out this gorgeous stop-animation book trailer. And she wrote that hauntingly beautiful music for it too! You can pre-order the book here at Fountain Bookstore. I'll be doing that myself very shortly. :)
- [OMG READ THIS BOOK!](https://stephaniecainonline.com/omg-read-this-book/) - You guys! I just finished megburden's book Northlander! It arrived in themail today, and I immediately sat down on the front porch and started reading. And I didn't stop for three hours except for the ten minutes while I ate supper. Now, I'd already been lucky enough to read the first few chapters online a
- [Preparing for NaNo already...?](https://stephaniecainonline.com/preparing-for-nano-already/) - Yes, that's right, folks! I'm already getting psyched up for NaNoWriMo. I think it's because of all the writing I've been doing lately. Between all these original fic challenges and all the fanfic challenges, I'm feeilng very Up about writing. So I've created an f-locked LJ to post my original writing, which is theregent. Some
- [It is not peace when cruelty reigns](https://stephaniecainonline.com/it-is-not-peace-when-cruelty-reigns/) - "Paladins show that courage is possible," Cami said to them one day. "It is easy enough to find reasons to give in to evil. War is ugly, as Paks knows well," she nodded toward Paks.... "We do not argue that war is better than peace; we are not so stupid as that. But it is
- [TLF](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tlf/) - Words written: 5200. Scenes: edited Michael & General Costelle, Gabriel/Kamisa, Jon/Bria (eek) Though this is slightly misleading, as the scene between Michael and Costelle is an earlier scene that I went back and edited for continuity, and the scene between Gabriel and Kamisa is one from Draft 4 that I edited somewhat for Draft 5.
- [Writing frustration](https://stephaniecainonline.com/writing-frustration/) - First off, I would like to state that low-fat chocolate pudding does NOT satisfy chocolate cravings. I've eaten loads of it tonight, and it's just not doing it for me. (Why low-fat? That's what Dad bought.) This has been an interesting night. I am feeling very frustrated with my writing process on the novel. The
- [TLF update](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tlf-update/) - Tonight's word count: 904 Go me. Have finished scene with prickly elf and loveable shepherd. Whee. Someday, I want the fans to write Mischa/Owen slash. ^_^ Off to email update to slightlyjillian.
- [Stymied by the climax](https://stephaniecainonline.com/stymied-by-the-climax/) - According to my novel outline, I'm 9 scenes away from finishing the novel revision. And I'm stuck at the scene that takes place right before the major showdown. I have to get Character C and Villain A to a certain physical location and set the scene for the showdown to come... And I can't seem
- [Revision is a battlefield](https://stephaniecainonline.com/revision-is-a-battlefield/) - And lately some of the casualties have been a couple of scenes I always liked and a character who, honestly, sort of annoys me. But fortunately I've discovered a few foxholes, like a couple of scenes with a new character I like more than I expected, or a way to rearrange the plot in a way that
- [Novel revision, day...we'll call it 2](https://stephaniecainonline.com/novel-revision-day-well-call-it-2/) - After a frustrating start, I've managed to be pretty productive tonight. I cleaned off my desk so I'd have a lot of space to spread out the manuscript printout that I'd scribbled all over...and then couldn't find the first 27 pages. After a while I remembered (vaguely) that I had done some revising on the
- [GLA's "Dear Lucky Agent"](https://stephaniecainonline.com/glas-dear-lucky-agent/) - I rewrote the beginning of Shaper so that the first two hundred words are snappier, have less drama but more action, and hopefully get to the catalyst event quicker. How sad is it that this feels like a major accomplishment? Shaper Forget writer's block, artist's block was a bitch. Zeva Couran shut the door of
- [NaNo day 5 & 6](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nano-day-5-6/) - I'm not even talking about today, because I haven't written yet today. I took yesterday off. I had a headache and was exhausted and just decided not to stress over it. I have the weekend ahead of me and that's my best writing time for NaNo. Of course, I woke up with the headache still,
- [*nervous*](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nervous/) - I'm going to the write-in at the 56th and Lafayette Starbucks tonight. I've never done one of these before, but since I fell behind last night, I decided it would be a good idea. Heh. Actually I wanted to do one last year but didn't ever make it happen. This year I have no excuses
- [NaNoWriMo Day 2](https://stephaniecainonline.com/nanowrimo-day-2/) - 4349 / 50000 words. 9% done! I actually wrote about 3500 of those yesterday in the car on the way home from vacation. Thank goodness someone else was driving! LOL Today I wrote the rest in the carpool on the way home. I tried to write more when I got home, but I kept getting
- [Revision Frustration](https://stephaniecainonline.com/revision-frustration-2/) - I keep wanting to finish revising my novel and submit it...and I keep not revising it. I stare at the file, I flip to LJ and wonder why no one has updated, I stare at the file, I play in Photoshop for a while, I stare at the file, I go through and tag some
- [Revision Frustration](https://stephaniecainonline.com/revision-frustration/) - I keep wanting to finish revising my novel and submit it...and I keep not revising it. I stare at the file, I flip to LJ and wonder why no one has updated, I stare at the file, I play in Photoshop for a while, I stare at the file, I go through and tag some
- [Research question...](https://stephaniecainonline.com/blah/) - Dear flist, I am sorry I am so far behind in LJ/IJ-land. I'm sorry to the people I usually chat with that I've been non-chatty or not around lately. I'm in my winter funk, I think. Or something. Anyway, I'm still alive, I had a "Grey Street" moment today (Hey, how did I come to
- [Merton quote on love](https://stephaniecainonline.com/merton-quote-on-love/) - The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. ~Thomas Merton
- [Lunar Eclipse](https://stephaniecainonline.com/working-on-my-own/) - Watched the lunar eclipse this morning - got up at 5:15 to see the partial, and again at 5:50 to see the totality. It was really neat. Unfortunately at 7:09, when both the sun and moon were supposed to be in the sky together, the moon had vanished. Today I am very tired, the way
- [WICKED LOVELY](https://stephaniecainonline.com/wicked-lovely/) - Am so excited! Stopped by Barnes & Noble on my way home from work to pick up my reserved copy of Wicked Lovely!!! SQUEE! I also got home from work to find another Foyle's War DVD in my mailbox, and I have a doctor's appointment for my sinus trouble/earache tomorrow, finally, so I am trying
- [Research frustration](https://stephaniecainonline.com/research-frustration/) - Why is it SO difficult to find the name of a hospital that was open in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, in 1984? *tears hair*
- [Computer Woes](https://stephaniecainonline.com/woe-is-i/) - Took Frodo the laptop down to Office Depot for the free wifi access today. I've had four nights of shitty internet connectivity in the past week, and Dad didn't seem to be having any problems himself. Unfortunately, Office Depot's wifi wasn't making any difference. It's not the ISP, it's Frodo. Frodo's two and a half
- [Poema](https://stephaniecainonline.com/poema/) - This is a poem that was printed and left behind by a patron. I like it, so I present it here for you. Um. It's in Spanish. So hopefully some of you can appreciate it anyway. Poema Moises Villavicencio Barras I. La tarde colores de vuelo entra en nuestra tumba. Un lobo hijo de la
- [Gales of November](https://stephaniecainonline.com/gales-of-november/) - The storm last night was incredible. It knocked our power out just a few minutes after I made my NaNo post, and the power stayed out until about 7:30 this morning. In fact the winds were so strong that Mom insisted I stay downstairs until the worst was over. This was inconvenient as we no
- [REC: How To Bring Someone Back From the Dead](https://stephaniecainonline.com/22/) - I want to point you to an awesome story. "How to Bring Someone Back From the Dead" by Victoria Schanoes Click here to read it. Very good, very powerful.

## Pages

- [About](https://stephaniecainonline.com/) - I'm so glad you're here! I write snarky, independent women, queer characters, and found families on irreverent but hopeful journeys through vividly drawn magical worlds--whether it's our own world with a touch of magic, or a completely made-up world. A proud crazy cat lady, I'm happily owned by Strider and Glorfindel.
- [Resources](https://stephaniecainonline.com/resources/) - I've had a couple of people ask me what apps and methods I use to write, so I decided to pull together a resource page aimed at writers. Some of the links are affiliate links, but I promise, I'm not linking to anything I don't already use and love myself! I'll update this page periodically as
- [Newsletter](https://stephaniecainonline.com/newsletter/) - Get a free story! Want to receive free stories, early sneak previews, and advance notification of events and releases? Sign up for my newsletter here! I send emails roughly twice a month, or you can choose to receive emails only when I have a new release. My email pals will always be the first people to
- [Books](https://stephaniecainonline.com/my-books/) - Storms in Amethir - Epic Fantasy Epic fantasy set in an alternate world not drawn from medieval Europe. Growing up in Tornado Alley, I've always had an unhealthy fascination with bad weather. Reading order is: A Song of Storm and Shadow Stormseer The Weather War Shroudling Witchery's End (forthcoming) To get a short story set fifteen years
- [My Calendar](https://stephaniecainonline.com/my-calendar/)
- [Media Kit](https://stephaniecainonline.com/media-kit/) - Thank you for your interest! I'm happy to provide resources to any member of the media, journalist, blogger, or reviewer. Please check out the resources below to see if they fit your needs. If not, please feel free to contact me with your specific request. I'm more than happy to speak at your group meeting or
- [Newsletter Success](https://stephaniecainonline.com/newsletter-success/) - AHOY! You've successfully subscribed to my fortnightly newsletter! Just a little housekeeping...make sure to whitelist my emails! That's the best way to ensure they end up in your inbox rather than your Spam or Junk folder. Not sure how to do that? This is a great website that provides instructions. If my email doesn't show up
- [Storms in Amethir](https://stephaniecainonline.com/my-writing/storms-in-amethir/) - Here you'll find supplemental material about the Storms in Amethir series. Right now, that means maps and art. At some point, you might find short fiction, deleted scenes, and other stuff! Reading Order A Song of Storm and Shadow Stormseer The Weather War Shroudling Witchery's End (forthcoming) The Midwinter Royal takes place in the same
- [Contact Me](https://stephaniecainonline.com/contact-me/) - I would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions or just want to send some feedback, feel free to contact me! Email: stephanie@stephaniecainonline.com Twitter: @stephanie_cain Facebook: StephanieCainFiction I know social media isn't quite the same as a handwritten letter, but I do respond to emails! I love meeting new people on Twitter and
- [ARC Request Registered](https://stephaniecainonline.com/arc-request-registered/) - Awesome! You're all signed up for an ARC, and I'll email you as soon as it's available! Thank you so much for being a Cainiac!
- [New Releases Only](https://stephaniecainonline.com/new-releases-only/) - You've been moved to the email list for new releases only! Thanks for your interest in my books!
- [Unsubscribed](https://stephaniecainonline.com/unsubscribed/) - Success! You are now unsubscribed from my email list.
- [Privacy Policy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/privacy-policy/) - PRIVACY STATEMENT Your privacy is important. This privacy statement provides information about the personal information that Stephanie Cain Online collects, and the ways in which Stephanie Cain Online uses that personal information. Credit This document was created using a Contractology template available at http://www.freenetlaw.com. Personal information collection Stephanie Cain Online may collect and use the
- [My Writing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/my-writing/) - Epic Fantasy | Urban Fantasy | Other Fiction | Nonfiction I write mostly fiction, and mostly long fiction. My favorite genre to write in is epic fantasy, though I also enjoy reading and writing urban fantasy, or as I describe my stuff, "modern faerie stories". I also do a lot of writing as part of my day job,
- [Events](https://stephaniecainonline.com/events/)

## Locations

- [Fusion 54](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-locations/fusion-54/)
- [Demo: Minnesota Orchestra](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-locations/demo-minnesota-orchestra/)

## Books

- [A Haunting in Hightown](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/a-haunting-in-hightown/)
- [Omens on the Ohio](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/omens-on-the-ohio/)
- [A Wailing on Walnut Street](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/a-wailing-on-walnut-street/) - Morrigan McBride loves her life as a high-performing sales rep in St. Louis, a forty-something divorcee, and cat mom. She’s about to have her life turned upside down. When her beloved Aunt Meg dies unexpectedly, she’s forced to put her life on hold for a month to settle Aunt Meg’s affairs. Meaning to close down
- [Mourning at the Mill](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/mourning-at-the-mill/)
- [The Banshee by the Bridge](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/the-banshee-by-the-bridge/)
- [Witchery's End](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/witcherys-end/) - - Storms in Amethir Book Six
- [A Song of Storm and Shadow](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/a-song-of-storm-and-shadow/) - A Song of Storm and Shadow - A duty-bound gay prince, a rebellious princess, and a desperate assassin are on a collision course--with a war-ending alliance in the balance.
- [Fire Soul: A Fantasy Short](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/fire-soul-a-fantasy-short/) - Fire Soul: A Fantasy Short - Sennae can't please her herbalist mother, so she goes in search of the Duke's missing daughter and finds herself along the way.
- [The Weather War](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/weather-war/) - The Weather War is On the Horizon Princess Azmei died for her country three years ago–or so everyone but a trusted few believed. Having survived assassination attempts, the desert, dragons, and a treacherous plot designed to destroy her entire family, Azmei has finally managed to save her kingdom. Now she has to save the world.
- [Stormseer](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/stormseer/) - Stormseer book trailer - Storms in Amethir epic fantasy series from Stephanie Cain on Vimeo. The kingdoms of Tamnen and Strid have been at war for decades. Princess Azmei of Tamnen left her family for a treaty marriage to end that war--but an assassin's blade destroyed her plans. Protected by her presumed death, Azmei hunts
- [Shroudling](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/shroudling/) - Shroudling: Storms in Amethir Book 5 - by Stephanie A. Cain - While Civil War rages in Amethir, one angry young woman makes a discovery to change the world.
- [The Midwinter Royal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/the-midwinter-royal/) - The Midwinter Royal: A Romance of Tamnen Izbel Cantara of the Fifth Family needs a husband if she wants to keep her family's estate. She travels to the king's midwinter celebrations, the traditional time for the nobility to arrange marriage contracts, in hopes of finding an alternate to marrying her conniving cousin Willat. She knows
- [Shades of Circle City](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/shades-circle-city/) - Shades of Circle City is the first in a new urban fantasy series! Chloe is Catholic, a cop, and conventional, not necessarily in that order. But when a run-of-the-mill burglary arrest goes bad, she ends up dead. Turns out there are worse things than having a bra that doesn’t fit right. When she wakes up
- [Circle City Psychic](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/circle-city-psychic/) - Martin Cole has been home from Afghanistan for three years, and his business--a one-man garage--is going well. The problem is, his PTSD hasn't gone away. He's tried all the usual treatments and some of the...well, less legal treatments, despite the fact his sister's a cop. But he's still having nightmares. Dreams. Visions. His world turns
- [G is for Ghosts](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/g-is-for-ghosts/) - A teenage girl’s classmates begin disappearing only to haunt her dreams, ships full of ghostly passengers in need of release test those who are tasked to give them peace, psychopomps whose job is guiding the spirits of the dead to the other side meet in a support group, and more fill these pages. Featuring work
- [F is for Fairy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/f-is-for-fairy/) - Retellings of familiar favourites from new perspectives, and brand new stories share the pages of this fairy-themed collection. Within these offerings you’ll find fairy music and food, contracts (making and breaking them), changelings, circles and curses–these stories deliver all the things you already love about fairies and a few new tricks as well. A dusting of dragons, shapeshifters, and ogres accompany these tales which include feminist fairies overcoming trauma, Norse fairies breaking the rules to interfere in human affairs, intergalactic fairies hitching a ride to a new home, political satire featuring an idiot king and talking animals, a new Robin Archer story, fairy run nightclubs, and so, so much more. Contributors Altogether this anthology includes twenty-six brand new tales–one for each letter of the alphabet–from contributors Pete Aldin, Steve Bornstein, Andrew Bourelle, Stephanie A. Cain, Beth Cato, Sara Cleto, Cory Cone, Danielle Davis, Megan Engelhardt, Michael Fosburg, Joseph Halden, Lynn Hardaker, L.S. Johnson, Michael M. Jones, Jeanne Kramer-Smyth, Samantha Kymmell-Harvey, C.S. MacCath, Jonathan C. Parrish, Alexandra Seidel, Michael B. Tager, Rachel M. Thompson, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, Brittany Warman, Lilah Wild, Suzanne J. Willis, and BD Wilson.
- [E is for Evil](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/e-is-for-evil/) - Edited by Rhonda Parrish My short story "C" takes place between Shades of Circle City and Circle City Psychic. If you liked Murphy O'Hare and want more, you need to check out this book! E is for Evil contains twenty-six individual stories which each shine a different light on the multi-faceted idea that is evil. Running the gamut
- [Sow the Wind](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/sow-the-wind/) - Eighteen-year-old Gabriel Malnythe should be training for his inheritance as a warrior nobleman. Instead, he dreams of entering the clergy and devoting his life to philosophy. But fever takes the lives of his two brothers and Gabriel is pushed towards a decision he thought he could avoid. Should he accept his rightful place in the
- [Equus](https://stephaniecainonline.com/books/equus/) - There’s always something magical about horses, isn’t there? Whether winged or at home in the water, mechanical or mythological, the equines that gallop through these pages span the fantasy spectrum. In one story a woman knits her way up to the stars and in another Loki's descendant grapples with bizarre transformations while fighting for their

## Categories

- [Writers I Like](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/writers-life/reading/writers-i-like/)
- [NaNoWriMo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/my-writing-process/nanowrimo/)
- [Researching](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/my-writing-process/research/)
- [Nature](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/writers-life/nature/)
- [Travel](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/writers-life/travel/)
- [Indie Publishing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/indie-publishing/)
- [Self-Pub 101](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/indie-publishing/self-pub-101/)
- [Book Reviews](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/writers-life/reading/book-reviews/)
- [Reading](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/writers-life/reading/)
- [NaNoWriMo by Year](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/my-writing-process/nanowrimo/nano-by-year/)
- [Writing Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/my-writing-process/writing-fantasy/)
- [Revising](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/my-writing-process/revising/)
- [A Writer's Life](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/writers-life/)
- [Business](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/indie-publishing/business/)
- [Stationery](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/writers-life/stationery/)
- [My Writing Process](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/my-writing-process/)
- [Motivation](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/my-writing-process/motivation/)
- [My Journey](https://stephaniecainonline.com/category/indie-publishing/my-journey/)

## Tags

- [music](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/music/)
- [Being a Writer is Hard](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/being-a-writer-is-hard/)
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- [writers I like](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/writers-i-like-2/)
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- [epic fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/epic-fantasy/)
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- [Vistaren](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/vistaren/)
- [cats](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/cats-2/)
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- [Stormsinger](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/stormsinger/)
- [urban fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/urban-fantasy/)
- [playlists](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/playlists/)
- [procrastination](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/procrastination-2/)
- [setting: Indiana](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/setting-indiana/)
- [Azmei](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/azmei/)
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- [book covers](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/book-cover/)
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- [Brandon Shrike](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/brandon-shrike/)
- [novella](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/novella/)
- [Teronn](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/teronn/)
- [marketing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/marketing/)
- [Sow the Wind](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/sow-the-wind/)
- [Gabriel Malnythe](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/gabriel-malnythe/)
- [Faerie](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/faerie/)
- [anthologies](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/anthology/)
- [Laura VanArendonk Baugh](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/laura-vanarendonk-baugh/)
- [Rhonda Parrish](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/rhonda-parrish/)
- [book recs](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/book-recs/)
- [interview](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/interview/)
- [author appearances](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/author-appearances/)
- [holidays](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/holidays/)
- [productivity methods](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/productivity-methods/)
- [reviews](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/reviews/)
- [Stormseer](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/stormseer/)
- [Storms in Amethir](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/storms-in-amethir/)
- [book lists](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/book-lists/)
- [books I've read](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/books-ive-read/)
- [The Weather War](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/the-weather-war/)
- [writing projects](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/writing-projects/)
- [Nicole Cardiff](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/nicole-cardiff/)
- [videos](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/video/)
- [fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/fantasy/)
- [TBR list](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/tbr-list/)
- [writing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/writing/)
- [NaNoWriMo](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/nanowrimo/)
- [time management](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/time-management/)
- [writing fantasy series](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/writing-fantasy-series/)
- [hope](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/hope/)
- [Indiana](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/indiana/)
- [reading](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/reading/)
- [series: Storms in Amethir](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/series-storms-in-amethir/)
- [romance](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/romance/)
- [The Midwinter Royal](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/the-midwinter-royal/)
- [The Loyalty Factor](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/the-loyalty-factor/)
- [Maze of Moments](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/maze-of-moments/)
- [Come Ye Back](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/come-ye-back/)
- [NaNoWriMo tools](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/nanowrimo-tools/)
- [productivity](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/productivity/)
- [reading lists](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/reading-lists/)
- [writers groups](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/writers-groups/)
- [writing process](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/writing-process/)
- [resources](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/resources/)
- [research](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/research/)
- [sailing](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/sailing/)
- [Shades of Circle City](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/shades-of-circle-city/)
- [Circle City Magic](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/circle-city-magic/)
- [Chloe Cole](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/chloe-cole/)
- [Braxton Wolfe](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/braxton-wolfe/)
- [WIP](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/wip/)
- [world-building](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/world-building/)
- [Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menageries](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/rhonda-parrishs-magical-menagerie/)
- [guest posts](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/guest-posts/)
- [my books](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/my-books/)
- [Garrett Hutson](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/garrett-hutson/)
- [Giftmas](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/giftmas/)
- [OwnVoices](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/ownvoices/)
- [email](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/email/)
- [Patreon](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/patreon/)
- [book release](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/book-release/)
- [Lozarr](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/lozarr/)
- [Equus](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/equus/)
- [history](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/history/)
- [Witchery's End](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/witcherys-end/)
- [LGBT](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/lgbt/)
- [Elliott Blake](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/elliott-blake/)
- [Martin Cole](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/martin-cole/)
- [Circle City Psychic](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/circle-city-psychic/)
- [E is for Evil](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/e-is-for-evil/)
- [short stories](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/short-story/)
- [Murphy O'Hare](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/murphy-ohare/)
- [A Stranger in Circle City](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/stranger-in-circle-city/)
- [Gift of the Werewolf](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/gift-of-the-werewolf/)
- [F is for Fairy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/f-is-for-fairy/)
- [sneak peek](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/sneak-peek/)
- [burnout](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/burnout/)
- [positivity](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/positivity/)
- [depression](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/depression/)
- [enneagram](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/enneagram/)
- [CliftonStrengths](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/cliftonstrengths/)
- [Shroudling](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/shroudling/)
- [preorder](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/preorder/)
- [release day](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/release-day/)
- [How I Write](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/how-i-write/)
- [yoga](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/yoga/)
- [affiliate links](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/affiliate-links/)
- [HB90](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/hb90/)
- [book launch](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/book-launch/)
- [6](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/6/)
- [stationery](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/stationery/)
- [fountain pens](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/fountain-pens/)
- [notebooks](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/notebooks/)
- [new year's resolutions](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/new-years-resolutions/)
- [A Song of Storm and Shadow](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/a-song-of-storm-and-shadow/)
- [New Richmond](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/new-richmond/)
- [family](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/family/)
- [Morrigan McBride Mysteries](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/morrigan-mcbride-mysteries/)
- [crazy cat lady](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/crazy-cat-lady/)
- [A Wailing on Walnut Street](https://stephaniecainonline.com/tag/a-wailing-on-walnut-street/)

## Event Categories

- [General](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-event-category/general/)

## Location Accessibility

- [Accessible Entrance](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-location-access/accessible-entrance/)
- [Accessible Parking Designated](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-location-access/accessible-parking-designated/)
- [Accessible Restrooms](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-location-access/accessible-restrooms/)
- [Accessible Seating](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-location-access/accessible-seating/)
- [Wheelchair Accessible](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-location-access/wheelchair-accessible/)
- [Bariatric Seating Available](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-location-access/bariatric-seating-available/)
- [Elevator to all public areas](https://stephaniecainonline.com/mc-location-access/elevator-to-all-public-areas/)

## Authors

- [Stephanie A. Cain](https://stephaniecainonline.com/authors/stephanie-a-cain/)
- [Various](https://stephaniecainonline.com/authors/various/)

## Genres

- [Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/genre/fantasy/)
- [Epic Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/genre/epic-fantasy-fantasy/)
- [Urban Fantasy](https://stephaniecainonline.com/genre/urban-fantasy-fantasy/)
- [Cozy Paranormal Mystery](https://stephaniecainonline.com/genre/cozy-paranormal-mystery/)

## Series

- [Storms in Amethir](https://stephaniecainonline.com/series/storms-amethir-series/)
- [Faith and Fealty](https://stephaniecainonline.com/series/faith-and-fealty/)
- [Holiday Novellas](https://stephaniecainonline.com/series/holiday-novellas/)
- [Circle City Magic](https://stephaniecainonline.com/series/circle-city-magic/)
- [Morrigan McBride Mysteries](https://stephaniecainonline.com/series/morrigan-mcbride-mysteries/)