Category Archives: Rachel Barnard

Nano ’14: Day 5 Update

by in NaNoWriMo, Rachel Barnard and tagged

Word count for the day: 3008

Total word count: 23,032

Total Words to Write to be on track: 8,333

Words written yesterday: 8,935

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Me and my Geocache Killer duck took a vacation day yesterday to take care of some business. We went to the Geocaching Headquarters in Seattle and boy what a trip! For anyone who has done Geocaching or wants to and is anywhere near Seattle I highly recommend going. For this one you have to make an appointment, so be prepared.

What fun! Here’s some of what I learned. GC HQ employees 81 people, but four work in the warehouse near the Needle. They have their own Café that serves breakfast and lunch called the Signal Café after their mascot. They are quite a visual company and their office building is stunning! There is a large TV that continuously displays the most recent caches that are logged all over the world. They have a wall of cache goodies, where you can buy the specialized “found it” shirt only available at GC HQ. My tour guide was wonderfully informative and very excited about getting to see me. She succeeded in making me want to work for them! It sounds like such a cool and fun place to work at.

ducks

Nano ’14: Day 2 Update

by in NaNoWriMo, Rachel Barnard and tagged

Word count for the day: 1918

Total word count: 7543

Total Words to Write to be on track: 3,333

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I’ve already broken one of my guidelines! I may be in the middle of reading another Indie book, which is a good and bad thing. Good because I read quite fast, it isn’t too long, and it’s fantastic! Bad because it’s so good I want to finish and it’s distracting. Gr. I just have been in a reading mood these past few weeks.

In other news I was doing some geocaching with someone when we came upon this little fellow (can you call a female deer a fellow?)

 

Nano ’14: Day 1 Update

by in NaNoWriMo, Rachel Barnard and tagged

unnamed unnamed (2)

Word count for the day: 5625

Total word count: 5625

Total Words to Write to be on track: 1667

 

 

Last night was quite exciting! I love the concept of Hallonanoween, beginning NaNoWriMo EXACTLY (Yes, Paul) at midnight on November 1st. I like timings that have special meanings. However… I didn’t go. It was a little bit too far and a little bit too late and I fell asleep. 😦 Next year!

 

To recap: My novel: Check back with me on this one in a few days… I may have changed my mind and novel entirely!

My goals: Win NaNoWriMo 2014 by writing 50k of the aforementioned novel, Lose 5 lbs

Means to Accomplish Said Goal:

My nano plan…

– No reading and reviewing Indie books until December (only reading for pleasure)!

– No working on other writing projects other than blog updates!

– November blogging to only be about NaNo and pre-written reviews!

– Exercise!

– Write every day!

– Clear my social calendar for more writing time!

– Get up earlier so I can write for an hour every day before work!

-Be excited and stay motivated!

Goodreads Giveaway Ending: Last Chance to Win a Review Copy of Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams by Rachel Barnard

by in Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams, Author Thursdays, Local Authors, Rachel Barnard

Ataxia cover

 

Click to enter to win a signed review copy of Rachel Barnard’s debut novel Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams. 

As the U.S. government prepares to take over the world, MC infiltrates one of their elite academies that trains future leaders. MC must rise to the top in the Cube training grounds in order to be placed high up within the government so she can stop them in their takeover. It is not until her fourth and final year at the academy that her top-student status is threatened by the sudden arrival of Li, the new transfer student. MC is completely focused on her self-created mission until she gets sidetracked by Li, who might be bad news in more ways than which she bargained.

Nano is Close!

by in Local Authors, NaNoWriMo, Rachel Barnard, The Day The Computer Stood Still

National Novel Writing Month is just about a week away now… Are you ready? I’m in the process of clearing my schedule, researching for my book, working on an outline, and drafting up my goals. Go back, you say, what is NaNoWriMo??? Well, dear readers it is the month of November where you attempt to write a 50k word novel in just a month! Check out nanowrimo.org for more info or to sign up!  Pictured above is my -ahem- initial research for my novel. You can’t quite tell from the covers, but both these movies involve geocaching. That’s right, something else you may be unfamiliar with… Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt in real life! Check out geocaching.com for less cryptic descriptions and to sign up!

My goals for Nano are to write my novel the Geocache Killer and lose 5 lbs because I plan to write and exercise more! I’m going to follow one of my favorite author’s advice on how to write your first draft in 20 days (check out that scintillating blog post by Ksenia Anske here).

To accomplish this feat of inhuman strength and motivation I have created my nano calendar… Where I have placed my write-ins! I’ve also begun shifting my internal clock so that I can wake up earlier, get to work 30-60 minutes earlier and use that time to write!

nano calendar

 

After thinking and thinking about how I can possibly write a suspense/thriller when I’ve never attempted, I thought up a better spin to the story, one with more depth, one with more geocaching, one that will be funny, and fun to read. Perhaps it will be best classified as a drama… Whatever the case I’m getting nitty gritty on my outline now and will be finalizing my organization on my nano novel at my Factoria and Newcastle write-ins and writing dates on the 29th and 30th.

All my ducks are lining up, do you have yours?

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See you at Hallonanoween, sooner or later Wrimos!

Miscellaneous Mondays: FreeValley Publishing Block Party

by in At One's Beast, Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams, Free Valley Publishing, Local Authors, Local Events, Miscellaneous Mondays, Rachel Barnard | 1 Comment

 

Had a blast this Saturday at the Snoqualmie Block Party with FreeValley Publishing:20140920_09400720140920_093957

 

The following photos from Sheri J. Kennedy (second from right), for more see here.

 

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This cute little boy came right up to Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams.

 

Call for Indie Books for Me (Rachel Barnard) to Review

by in Author Thursdays, Local Authors, Rachel Barnard | 2 Comments

Dear Readers and Writers,

I love to read. I love to write. I love to tell the world my opinions. My current tbr (to-be-read) list is shrinking rapidly and I need new books! My preferences tend to lie in local authors of Indie books in the genres of YA/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Action and Adventure. Have you written a book and are looking for reviews? Do you know of a really good Indie book that I should read and review? I want to support authors like me and use my talents to add to the melee that we call the internet. I post reviews on my blog here, on Goodreads and Amazon. I am now reading in both Kindle and print version. If I get the physical copy of a book, I require it to be signed by the author (which usually entails local events to purchase the novel or a giveaway. If you know of any author book release parties/readings/etc in the Bellevue/Seattle area I would love to know about them).

My dream one day when I’m a millionaire/billionaire is to fund Indie authors so that they can convert their novels into audiobooks.

Author Thursdays: At One’s Beast Book Giveaway* Ending and Character Names’ Meanings

by in At One's Beast, Ataxia and the Ravine of Lost Dreams, Author Thursdays, Local Authors, Rachel Barnard and tagged ,

Enter to win a copy of At One’s Beast, through September 14th

Atonesbeast

“You are not required to review the book if you win a copy. However, we encourage you do to so, as it’s the reason the publishers are giving us free books in the first place. People who review the books are also more likely to win more advance copies in the future.”

 

 

Alcina –  Derived from the Latinized Greek mythological name Alcinous meaning, “Strong-willed.”

Zosimos – Latinized form of a Greek name derived from  Ζωσιμος meaning “viable” or “likely to survive.”

Aethon – Ancient Greek word means “burning” or “blazing” or “shining.”

Chalysta – Variant and Female version of the Greek Kallistos, meaning “most beautiful.”

Eudocia – Latinized form of the Greek name  Ευδοκια (Eudokia) meaning “good thought.”

Mara – Means “bitter” in Hebrew.

Yuridia – Greek for “noblewoman.”

Marina – Feminine form of Marinus meaning “of the sea.”

Spyros – Greek short form of spyridon meaning “basket” or “spirit.”

 

 

If you miss out on the Goodreads Giveaway you can find the kindle/ebook version of At One’s Beast free during the September 19th – 21st weekend or purchase a signed copy at the Snoqualmie Block Party booth.