Hi everyone,
I'm so sorry I haven't been able to maintain the blog over this last summer. I'm at a time of transition, and trying to figure out what my next move is going to be.
As you know, I won't be able to continue on with more "Beyond" books. I'm now at peace with that, and putting all of my effort into new and exciting projects including an exciting new romance.
However, I'm not sure what the future is going to hold.
I'm very thankful for all my readers here on the Butterfly Blog. Thanks to everyone for your enthusiasm, support, and comments on the garden pictures. I enjoyed posting for you, and getting to know you. I'm thrilled to have such awesome readers, and hope to bring you more books soon.
Right now, all of my effort and energy is tied up in my family and my new writing projects. More and more, I've found, I just don't have much to say. I'm sorry for that.
I'm glad to announce that come Spring of 2013, I'll be able to launch my new YA career under the name Kristin Bailey. Keep an eye out for The Secret Order of Modern Amusementists. As soon as more details are firmed up about the series, I should have more to share in the future.
In the mean time, I'm writing new books as fast as I can and doing my best to get them out into the world.
Thank you once again,
I hope to see you online again soon.
Happy Reading,
Jess
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sorry for the Time Off
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you know I apologize for the delay in blogging. I needed a little break to get some things together over here in Ohio. The good news is, the garden is in bloom and I have some great pictures to share. This weekend, I'll put together a big post of pictures and start the new butterfly count for the season.
Sorry again for dropping off for a while, but I'm back and ready to blog.
Jess
I just wanted to let you know I apologize for the delay in blogging. I needed a little break to get some things together over here in Ohio. The good news is, the garden is in bloom and I have some great pictures to share. This weekend, I'll put together a big post of pictures and start the new butterfly count for the season.
Sorry again for dropping off for a while, but I'm back and ready to blog.
Jess
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Autism Awareness
Hi everyone,
Today is Autism awareness day, and I just wanted to take a moment to recognize the parents and loved ones of children affected by this wide-ranging disorder. Having a child with special medical circumstances is a surreal path to be on. Filled alternately with joy and frustration, triumph and tears, it is not an easy road to walk, but it's one you have to manage as best you can.
So, for Autism awareness day, please think twice before judging mothers with their children in public. Not every tantrum is a spoiled child. If you see someone struggling with their kids, offer to open a door or carry a bag. Little things can help a lot.
That's my PSA for the day.
Jess
Today is Autism awareness day, and I just wanted to take a moment to recognize the parents and loved ones of children affected by this wide-ranging disorder. Having a child with special medical circumstances is a surreal path to be on. Filled alternately with joy and frustration, triumph and tears, it is not an easy road to walk, but it's one you have to manage as best you can.
So, for Autism awareness day, please think twice before judging mothers with their children in public. Not every tantrum is a spoiled child. If you see someone struggling with their kids, offer to open a door or carry a bag. Little things can help a lot.
That's my PSA for the day.
Jess
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Operation Auction is Live
Hi everyone,
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to post last week. I had planned on blogging about cleaning up the garden, but the camera is broken, and I was waiting for the new one to arrive. Sadly it hasn't arrived yet, but as soon as it does I'll start my summer blogging with garden updates for those who enjoy the garden posts.
In the mean time, I have some important news. A massive auction of all sorts of romancy goodness has just gone live on ebay. Operation Auction is to benefit a member of the romance community who tragically lost her husband to a senseless act of violence leaving her and her daughters alone.
Here are more details.
Here is a link to the auction itself.
I am offering the bidder's choice of either a line by line critique of a partial manuscript up to 60 pages with standard formatting including a 12 page max synopsis and query letter, or I will read your full ms up to 90,000 words give or take within reason, then send you a detailed revision letter with my suggestions and advice on how to make the manuscript stronger.
I'm open to all romance genres and YA, and I've got a great reputation as a critter, so if you find it in your heart, check the auction out. There are tons of great things up for bid. Be sure to peruse the entire store.
It's for a good cause.
Thank you,
Jess
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to post last week. I had planned on blogging about cleaning up the garden, but the camera is broken, and I was waiting for the new one to arrive. Sadly it hasn't arrived yet, but as soon as it does I'll start my summer blogging with garden updates for those who enjoy the garden posts.
In the mean time, I have some important news. A massive auction of all sorts of romancy goodness has just gone live on ebay. Operation Auction is to benefit a member of the romance community who tragically lost her husband to a senseless act of violence leaving her and her daughters alone.
Here are more details.
Here is a link to the auction itself.
I am offering the bidder's choice of either a line by line critique of a partial manuscript up to 60 pages with standard formatting including a 12 page max synopsis and query letter, or I will read your full ms up to 90,000 words give or take within reason, then send you a detailed revision letter with my suggestions and advice on how to make the manuscript stronger.
I'm open to all romance genres and YA, and I've got a great reputation as a critter, so if you find it in your heart, check the auction out. There are tons of great things up for bid. Be sure to peruse the entire store.
It's for a good cause.
Thank you,
Jess
Saturday, March 12, 2011
People Amaze Me
Hi everyone,
First off, I'd like to congratulate donnas for winning a signed copy of Beyond the Shadows. Go ahead and email me through my website with your address and I'll send you a copy.
I spent the day at my RWA meeting for the month. It was one of those times I really should have brought my camera. We had a couple of guys at the meeting who brought in a slew of weaponry and uniforms recreated from time periods ranging from the Jacobite revolution to the Revolutionary war. It was awesome.
Now it is going to set me on a whole new line of historical research, because I know at some point I'm going to have to use something from this in a novel. It was just too cool.
It never ceases to amaze me the wealth of very specific knowledge that people I know possess. While everyone here at the blog knows that I have a little thing for butterflies, not as many people know that I spent three years working for a bird-of-prey rehabilitation center fixing up injured hawks, vultures, and owls. I learned the ins and outs of basic falconry, and that knowledge has proven strangely useful from time to time, especially when I have to tie a random knot with one hand.
In my exploration of the world, I've learned about how to make beer, the best way to skin a mouse, (you don't want to know), and how to put on an authentic kilt where the pleats aren't sewn into the fabric. That last one is a bit of an ordeal, by the way.
So, now I'm curious. What strange things are you an expert on?
I think the day I stop being curious about the world will be the day I stop breathing.
How about you? What would you like to know more about?
Happy reading,
Jess
First off, I'd like to congratulate donnas for winning a signed copy of Beyond the Shadows. Go ahead and email me through my website with your address and I'll send you a copy.
I spent the day at my RWA meeting for the month. It was one of those times I really should have brought my camera. We had a couple of guys at the meeting who brought in a slew of weaponry and uniforms recreated from time periods ranging from the Jacobite revolution to the Revolutionary war. It was awesome.
Now it is going to set me on a whole new line of historical research, because I know at some point I'm going to have to use something from this in a novel. It was just too cool.
It never ceases to amaze me the wealth of very specific knowledge that people I know possess. While everyone here at the blog knows that I have a little thing for butterflies, not as many people know that I spent three years working for a bird-of-prey rehabilitation center fixing up injured hawks, vultures, and owls. I learned the ins and outs of basic falconry, and that knowledge has proven strangely useful from time to time, especially when I have to tie a random knot with one hand.
In my exploration of the world, I've learned about how to make beer, the best way to skin a mouse, (you don't want to know), and how to put on an authentic kilt where the pleats aren't sewn into the fabric. That last one is a bit of an ordeal, by the way.
So, now I'm curious. What strange things are you an expert on?
I think the day I stop being curious about the world will be the day I stop breathing.
How about you? What would you like to know more about?
Happy reading,
Jess
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Time to Start Anew
Hi everyone,
Well, it is beginning to look like spring is just around the corner. Am I ever grateful. I was getting a little sick of the snow, and I'm one of those people that really likes the snow. In the garden the tulips and daffodils have just pushed through the soil. The butterfly garden is a complete mess.
I don't think it's quite time to get out and clean everything up. I have a feeling another snowstorm or two might roll through our way, but it is heartening to see signs of life out there. I can't wait to be blogging about butterflies again.
In the mean time, I've gotten back on the writing horse. I'm working on a paranormal/fantasy romance. There's nothing urban about it, but I'm finding a lot of little elements that are reminding me of Beyond the Rain. I'm enjoying that, and hoping for the best with it.
It will be a new direction, but it is a direction that I'm really enjoying. Especially when I get to write the really intense conflict I enjoy in a good romance. This story also has a secondary romance, which is new territory for me.
So, here' s my question of the day. What do you think of secondary romances? Is it jarring to have a second set of characters with their own perspective in the story, or is it twice the fun?
And just for giggles, I'm going to give away a copy of Beyond the Shadows to one lucky commenter who answers this burning question. You can comment as much as you like, but only one comment will count toward the prize. The contest will be open until I announce the winner next week.
Have fun, and happy reading!
Jess
Saturday, February 26, 2011
For the Love of Libraries
Hi everyone,
Some recent events got me thinking about things. One of the hardest parts of being a relatively new published author is dealing with the glimpse behind the curtain at an industry that seems to enjoy hanging some heavy drapes. There are practices, or philosophies in the industry I do not agree with, and yet, I hardly have the clout to change them on my own.
Maybe one day I'll be able to fight the good fight, but right now I feel like a child watching a bitter battle and unable to lift a sword. While I believe it is wise to keep a lot of my personal opinions to myself so as not to burn any bridges I may have to cross, I can express my positive and supportive thoughts, because positive and supportive thoughts are almost always appreciated.
So here it goes.
I love libraries, and I don't understand any author having personal animosity toward them.
When I was in fourth grade, I read the book Rabbit Hill. I checked it out from the library to use in a class project because I liked stories about animals. In that book I found a philosophy that I have embraced for the whole of my life.
Rabbit Hill is the story of a group of animals living in the woods on the outskirts of an abandoned farm. Life has been hard. Without the farm crops to sustain them, they have been suffering. New people buy the farm and move in, but that brings new anxieties as the animals wonder if the people will leave them be, or hunt and trap them, making their lives worse.
Sure enough, the people plant their gardens and crops, and while the animals are suspicious of their intentions, they don't seem to do harm. When the crops are ripe, the new people set out an offering at the edge of the woods to the animals. It is all the animals would need to eat. As a result, the animals mark off the garden as sacred ground, vowing not to touch a single crop. They even set out to protect it from pests that would not heed this vow.
In the end, the neighboring farmer cannot understand why his garden is torn apart by crows, rabbits and cutworms, while the new farmer's crops are pristine and fruitful.
It's a simple message, generosity and good will pay off in the end.
When I think about the state of libraries, this book comes to mind. In my life, I've always tried to be the "good farmer" and give altruistically without remorse or regret. I think for any author or publishing company, seeing a library as something that eats away at the fruits of your labor is counter-productive. Libraries are amazing places where reading is cherished and encouraged. Libraries create new readers. Libraries create fans and readerships. Libraries spread the word about good books and encourage people to try new things.
I don't see how any of that possibly hurts me. I love libraries, because I love books and people who love books.
As I think about Rabbit Hill as an adult, I wonder why the farmer did it. Why did the farmer give so freely? In the book it was clear that they weren't giving of their crops with an expectation that their garden would be spared from pests. Their offering wasn't a payoff. They gave to the animals because they loved animals. They wanted the animals to be healthy and happy.
I want libraries to be happy and healthy as well. They make our lives richer, not poorer, so it's time to give freely. I'd much rather be generous to the libraries than lamenting the losses to piracy, which, like the cutworms in the story don't respect any rules at all.
So, three cheers for our libraries. They are the foundations of civilizations, and our lives would be poorer without them. Support them freely.
Happy reading,
Jess
Some recent events got me thinking about things. One of the hardest parts of being a relatively new published author is dealing with the glimpse behind the curtain at an industry that seems to enjoy hanging some heavy drapes. There are practices, or philosophies in the industry I do not agree with, and yet, I hardly have the clout to change them on my own.
Maybe one day I'll be able to fight the good fight, but right now I feel like a child watching a bitter battle and unable to lift a sword. While I believe it is wise to keep a lot of my personal opinions to myself so as not to burn any bridges I may have to cross, I can express my positive and supportive thoughts, because positive and supportive thoughts are almost always appreciated.
So here it goes.
I love libraries, and I don't understand any author having personal animosity toward them.
When I was in fourth grade, I read the book Rabbit Hill. I checked it out from the library to use in a class project because I liked stories about animals. In that book I found a philosophy that I have embraced for the whole of my life.
Rabbit Hill is the story of a group of animals living in the woods on the outskirts of an abandoned farm. Life has been hard. Without the farm crops to sustain them, they have been suffering. New people buy the farm and move in, but that brings new anxieties as the animals wonder if the people will leave them be, or hunt and trap them, making their lives worse.
Sure enough, the people plant their gardens and crops, and while the animals are suspicious of their intentions, they don't seem to do harm. When the crops are ripe, the new people set out an offering at the edge of the woods to the animals. It is all the animals would need to eat. As a result, the animals mark off the garden as sacred ground, vowing not to touch a single crop. They even set out to protect it from pests that would not heed this vow.
In the end, the neighboring farmer cannot understand why his garden is torn apart by crows, rabbits and cutworms, while the new farmer's crops are pristine and fruitful.
It's a simple message, generosity and good will pay off in the end.
When I think about the state of libraries, this book comes to mind. In my life, I've always tried to be the "good farmer" and give altruistically without remorse or regret. I think for any author or publishing company, seeing a library as something that eats away at the fruits of your labor is counter-productive. Libraries are amazing places where reading is cherished and encouraged. Libraries create new readers. Libraries create fans and readerships. Libraries spread the word about good books and encourage people to try new things.
I don't see how any of that possibly hurts me. I love libraries, because I love books and people who love books.
As I think about Rabbit Hill as an adult, I wonder why the farmer did it. Why did the farmer give so freely? In the book it was clear that they weren't giving of their crops with an expectation that their garden would be spared from pests. Their offering wasn't a payoff. They gave to the animals because they loved animals. They wanted the animals to be healthy and happy.
I want libraries to be happy and healthy as well. They make our lives richer, not poorer, so it's time to give freely. I'd much rather be generous to the libraries than lamenting the losses to piracy, which, like the cutworms in the story don't respect any rules at all.
So, three cheers for our libraries. They are the foundations of civilizations, and our lives would be poorer without them. Support them freely.
Happy reading,
Jess
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