Please welcome Jodi McIsaac to The Qwillery as part of the Into the Fire Tour! The second novel in Jodi's Thin Veil series, Into the Fire, will be published tomorrow.
“Do you have any quirky writing habits? If so, what are they?”
I don’t know if my writing habits count as “quirky,” but they seem to work for me! I have two small children and run my own copywriting business, so the majority of my writing gets done between 5 and 7 in the morning, before my kids get up. This, of course, means that I’m usually in bed by 9 and have very little social life. (But if you ask me if I’d rather have a social life or be a published writer, I’ll choose the latter every time!) I also book into a hotel one weekend a month and spend 8-10 hours each day writing—I find that it helps to get away from my house and all the distractions like kids, laundry, and dinner. Fortunately, my husband is very supportive and doesn’t mind when I jump ship once a month. I can usually get between 10,000 and 15,000 words done on these weekends away, so they certainly help move the story along.
Another writing habit I’ve developed is standing while I write. I found that when I was sitting for several hours a day I would experience horrible back pain, even though I tried to make my desk as ergonomic as possible. I’m currently writing this on a wireless keyboard on an old bookshelf, while my laptop is stacked on top of seven big hardcover books so that the screen is at eye-level. I have a good mat under my feet, and my back has never been happier. Besides, they say that if you work at a standing desk you’ll develop really shapely legs (among other health benefits), so here’s hoping!
I’m also a big fan of sticky notes. My office walls are covered with them – some are future story ideas, some are reminders about edits I need to make, others are for tricky spellings (like Toirdhealbhach MacDail re Deachai). I usually start a novel with three columns on the wall – Act I, Act II, and Act III. As I come up with ideas for the plot, I write them down on a sticky note and put it in the appropriate column, then move them around as necessary. It’s like the old index card outlining system, but on my walls.
Other quirky writing habits? I try to exercise and meditate every day, so that my mind is calm and clear and ready to focus. And other than that, I just stick with the old adage: butt in chair, hands on keyboard! Except for me, it’s “feet on mat, hands on keyboard!”
Jodi McIsaac is the author of the Thin Veil contemporary fantasy series, where Celtic mythology and the modern world collide. INTO THE FIRE, the second book in the series, is being released on November 12. You can pre-order it here.
Thin Veil
Into the Fire
Thin Veil 2
47North, November 12, 2013
Trade Paperback and Kindle eBook, 260 pages
Cedar McLeod would like nothing more than to return to Tír na nÓg, help rebuild the mythical kingdom, and start a new life for herself and her daughter, Eden. But peace isn’t what Cedar finds after being reunited with her little girl.
Nuala—who kidnapped and terrorized Eden in her previous bid for power—has returned and is making a persuasive claim for the vacant throne. The devastation such a ruler would bring upon both the kingdom and the human world is unthinkable. With no one else to stake a convincing counter-claim, Cedar steps forward...but first she must prove her worth beyond a doubt.
Her opportunity comes when she is charged with finding an ancient treasure, the Stone of Destiny, and returning it to its rightful home. It is a quest that will lead her to question her beliefs, and push her loyalties to their limits. If she succeeds, Cedar could grant her new world and her new family a chance to flourish again. If not...destruction may be the only path ahead.
Into the Fire, the second book in the Thin Veil series, is a captivating blend of Celtic myth, mystery, and adventure that delves deeper into the ancient world first explored in Through the Door.
Through the Door
Thin Veil 1
47North, April 23, 2013
Trade Paperback and Kindle eBook, 294 pages
It’s been seven years since the love of Cedar McLeod’s life left with no forwarding address. All she has left of him are heart-wrenching memories of happier times and a beautiful six-year-old daughter, Eden. Then, one day, Eden opens her bedroom door and unwittingly creates a portal that leads to anywhere she imagines.
But they’re not the only ones who know of Eden’s gift, and soon the child mysteriously vanishes.
Desperate for answers, Cedar digs into the past and finds herself thrust into a magical world of Celtic myths, fantastical creatures, and bloody rivalries. Teaming up with the unlikeliest of allies, Cedar must bridge the gap between two worlds and hold tight to the love in her heart…or lose everything to an ancient evil.
The first in the Thin Veil series, Through the Door is a pulse-pounding adventure that takes readers across the globe and deep into the hidden realms of Celtic lore.
About Jodi
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads
Check out the entire Into the Fire Blog Tour on Jodi's website here. There is a giveaway there too!
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