Book Updates

Keep up with Abby Morales’ books as they travel through the publishing process to the public!

Redemption

This world is a story and we are the characters. Each one of us is part of the great story – the masterpiece of manuscripts. It doesn’t get better than this. And what’s the premise of it? Redemption. Why didn’t God just wipe the slate clean when Adam and Eve messed up? Redemption. He wanted to save us, to redeem us from ourselves, from evil and from the mess we made. He had to because He loves us. If He had erased the Etch A Sketch, He wouldn’t have loved us. We are in the greatest love story there is.

I want to piece together stories, to show in part what a complete story of redemption looks like so that we as characters in the Greatest Story of Redemption won’t grow weary in well doing and can understand just what we are caught up in. There are endless examples of redemption to explore in a world that is in need of so much love and grace.

 

Tuesday Tales to resume in new year

Folks, Tuesday Tales will be taking a two week intermission to celebrate Christmas and bring in the new year.

Here’s an update on larger writing projects:

My novel Jamie Morgan is with the editor for finalization. My book cover design artist, Bethany Jagielko is working diligently on the perfect artwork for this soon-to-be published book.

My novel Irene has just finished author edits and patiently awaits the editor.

With 5,000 words, my novel The Violin Boy has just started taking on shape.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

6.9.2014

Jamie Morgan is in its first stage of professional edits. Handing over a manuscript with the full permission for editing and rewrites is very similar to putting your children on a train to boarding school. One can only stand on the platform and watch the engine chug out of the station and wonder what change will occur in them while they are gone. Just as that mother, I know change will happen, but I hold on to the hope that I have raised my characters up in a manner of integrity and honor such that they will stand firm in that which defines them. 

There is also a relief in knowing that though life is putting my 3rd edit on the back burner momentarily that someone else is working and moving my book forward in the final stages before submission to a publisher. This book stands on truth. It stands on people, purpose and the depth of the human soul. There are moments that are meant to provoke pain and cause you sorrow and there are moments of honor that will lift your own chin up a little with confidence. Relationships are the glue to life. They hold it together, making anything worth enduring. To know someone, to understand the depth of their depravity and the height of their genius, while choosing to love them as though they are exactly the way they wish they were, is love. Human love is not the goal in life, but merely the best companion as one pursue one’s purpose. Love is the best weapon, the best motivation and the best source of courage. There is not a doubt that Josh loves Jamie. 

5.21.2014

Jamie Morgan is coming along in its 3rd edit and I will soon be announcing the publisher. For the moment I have decided against self-publishing though I will be submitting to small house publishers and not the big scary ones in New York, NY. One day you will see my name with Harper Collins, but they don’t even know I exist yet. So for now I will find someone who cares about my vision and is ready to run the race with me. This first book is entirely special to me and I am joyful that you will be experiencing it soon. These characters are imperfect. They have more flaws than virtues, but they fight through and when they can no longer fight they stand. It’s an old truth that is still so true today. It brings honor and it makes a person respectable. A good man will always stand in the face of adversity even after he can no longer fight. He will stand in spirit against the evil. He will not bow under the weight of its force. A good man will live by a moral compass. Although he is a human being and will falter a time or two and make the wrong decisions, the good man will return to true north and continue the good path. 

5.1.2014

Today I am starting a new book. My friend Lauren and I are hosting a 30,000 word challenge. It’s not really a challenge as in a competition because my dear friend does not like to compete with me so it’s simply just a self-challenge to write a book in the month of May. In approximately 1000 words per day and 31 days later I will have a new book in raw form. 

Jamie Morgan is nearing the end of her second edit and I will continue both the 2nd and 3rd edits throughout this month. It should be in the hands of my first editor in two weeks. I think my new trajectory for publication will be August with my second book coming out in October. Attempting, failing, adjusting and attempting again are the key puzzle pieces to success. Looking back on my first edit, I hope I will never write a book again that will require that much editing. Even this second edit seems to be over the top. With better plot organization I do believe I will be more proficient at writing the first draft. Though I think it was Hemingway who said, “The first draft of anything is shit.” Well, Mr. Hemingway, I’ll take those words into consideration and get back to you in a few years with a few books under my belt, but I sure hope you are wrong. 

For my May Book Challenge, which anyone of you are welcome to join, simple post a comment or send me a message so you can stay in the loop. As of Day 1 I do not have a single topic, theme or character that I can begin this story. On top of that, I will not have my flash drive until this afternoon so this morning will be spent plotting, scheming and planing my third book. I feel unprepared for starting this book, but moving forward and taking action when you don’t “feel like it” is another key to success. There are only two things you can control: your actions and your attitude. So for the record I’m writing 1000 words today on my new book and I’m so excited about taking that action today!

4.23.2014

A little update on the writing process for Jamie Morgan:

I’m doing way more edits than I thought! This is to be expected as I have never ventured writing a 300+ page novel before and expected the process to define itself more than I defined it.

I am at the tail end of my second edit (mostly plot work and getting the storyline seamless) and have started on my third (and hopefully) final edit. Yay! The third edit is proving to be way more enjoyable than the first two revisions, which felt like pure labor. My writing muscles are sore from the effort and weary to finish the last little bit.

In my second edit, I have found I killed a horse in two separate scenes and have changed people’s names and allegiances around so much in an entire blockage of chapters that I got confused. Never fear, I have worked it out, but those flaws did shake me up a little. The feeling of it coming to together and making coherent sense is completely rewarding though and in reflection makes the pain enjoyable.

For the third edit, I discovered the most valuable tool. I let the computer read back my work to me and listen to all the errors that sound so obvious when you hear it but not so much when you read it over again for the tenth time. This is a handy tool.