lishmcbride

BTLN Chapter Chapter 33

This should have been up 3 days ago, but I lost time due to a migraine, too much smoke (I'm a delicate flower, people), and an energy vampire. I promise you'll get another chapter this week. 

Oh, and before I forget, I'm offering up an annotated copy of A Little Too Familiar to raise money for Maui.  

Stay safe out there, my friends.

-...

TBR of DOOM, Books I didn't skim through edition

So I've slowly been reading again, but it's still been really hit and miss. I went from "extreme editing brain mush" to "anxiety brain" because of book release stuff and then straight into meltdown territory with the printing debacle for Rough Around the Hedges. I like to be transparent with this stuff, so I'll tell you I have a lot of anxiety issues and whatnot stemming from my childhood that basically mean when there's anything that has happened in my radius that I have anything to do with ...

Printer Error on Rough Around the Hedges

The week a book comes out is really busy and a wee bit stressful. Most of it is good stress! But some of it is...not. Events go awry, bookmarks don't show up or are damaged, bookstores that promised to stock your book forget to order it, etc. And honestly, it's frustrating, but most of it I take in stride because what else are you going to do?

But this thing...I struggled today with this speed bump. It looks as if some copies of Rough Around the Hedges were printed from an early draft. ...

See You Next Year Snippet

I've been reading again, so I'll have some more book posts soon, but in the mean time, here's a snippet of the new book I've been drafting, See You Next Year which will be a straight up teen slasher comedy. Sort of Breakfast Club meets Ready or Not and Cabin in the Woods. Hope you like it! --Lish

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When he got to Martina’s locker, she was leaning her forehead against the metal like she was trying to telepathically will herself inside.

“What’s up, Teeny?”

She...

BTLN Chapter 32

Sorry to make you wait so long for this chapter, but I realized that right after the cliff hanger last week, I needed to go over and check on the characters holding the veil. I felt if I posted just that without more on Sam and Brid, some of you might actually track me down and kill me. So here it is--part of the chapter is about Nick, and then back to Sam. Enjoy!

--Lish

BTLN Chapter 31

You have all been so patient and how do I reward you? A chapter that is very cliffhanger-y. I'd say I was sorry, but I'm not. However, I finished edits both on Rough Around the Hedges (which is now completely done) and Red in Tooth and Claw (which will have another round at least), so you won't have big gaps in post for awhile.

Hope you're having the best Thursday,

Lish

Snippet of Red in Tooth and Claw

Book is due Friday and I'm furiously editing while on retreat. Thought I'd share a little snippet! For context, HisBen is a shortened title standing for "His Benevolence." Enjoy! --Lish

Miss Honeywell opened the door to the left of HisBen’s room. She paused, looking back behind her. “That one belongs to Stuckley.” She rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t go in there if you paid me up front.”

It was obvious she wanted me to ask why not, and I almost didn’t—I have...

Red in Tooth and Claw Snippet

Hey friends--I'm desperately holding on to the idea that in 4 days, I'll be on my writing retreat and get to focus on one thing and not be interrupted every ten seconds. Yesterday I had my mom texting me asking if I knew where her shoes were (she forgot to pack them), my oldest asking me for his keys (they were on the key rack) and my youngest wanting to show me his legos/describe his video game/keep up a nonstop commentary of his anime/complain that he was bored...and somehow I was supposed ...

Today's Research and a Question for You

One of the thing I like about being a writer is getting to research a lot of random things. For example, today I'm editing Red in Tooth and Claw, which my editor has dubbed as an "anti-historical Western horror--with bite and a touch of humor." (Which sums it up better than I've been able to.) Red in Tooth and Claw is 1800's-esque, where I'm going for the flavor of history but not accuracy per se because that's a thing I like to do. But I want it to feel real and like you're stepping...

Team Necromancer Text Exchange

I wanted to post something new and fun this week, but I've been too overloaded to do an entire chapter. And honestly, I'm glad I did this? The text exchanges are so fun and this one does a call back to one of my favorites. (If you haven't read the Build-a-Bear Incident, you can do so HERE, which might be easier than going back through the posts.) Enjoy! --Lish

BTLN Chapters 1-30

So it turns out the compiled version of Big Trouble, Little Necromancer was missing chapter 8. *sighs* So here's a new one WITH chapter 8 as well as chapter 30. Sorry about that!

--Lish

Preorder links are up!

I created a sort of master list here. You can always get signed copies from Third Place Books, but I'll also be doing some local events--right now I have one at Third Place, B&N Southcenter, University Bookstore, and so forth. Not all of those events are listed on websites yet, so don't worry if you don't see it.

Rough Around the Hedges Snippet

My brain wasn't cooperating on writing a new scene for the YA book I'm editing right now, so I popped over to do copy edits on the first half of Rough Around the Hedges. (I am looking forward to mid-July, when both of these projects will hopefully be off my plate and things will calm down.) 

Hopefully I haven't shared this one before, but it's from Will's POV. He's talking to his nana and I just love their dynamic. Enjoy! (For those so inclined, preorder links should be popping up ...

BTLN Chapter 30

I am still slogging through my massive workload. Just so very much going on and I'm worn thin. BUT, I managed to get a wee chapter of BTLN together for you. YAAAAY. And now, back to the work cave.

Hope you're all having a good week.

--Lish

Giveaways!

There are two going on right now! First, to win a copy of A Little Too Familiar on audio, you can enter here. 

Second, if you follow me on Instagram, there's currently a contest for a signed copy of Curses! (US and Canada only, alas.)

Just wanted to let you all know!

--Lish

Wee Snippet to celebrate RATH

Just a small piece from Vanessa's POV. Enjoy!

Inexplicably my eyes teared up and I was suddenly overwhelmed with feelings. I hated feelings. They were the opposite of helpful.

Will stopped rubbing Savvy’s feet so he could sling an arm around me and pull me close. “Hey, hey, it’s okay.”

I shamelessly buried my face into his chest. “It’s just her crying makes me so jangly and I—.” I growled in frustration. Savvy patted my hair with a drool-damp hand,...

Answer sheet from the audiobook contest

For those that did the contest and wanted to see which ones you guessed right, I've put them all below. I didn't use all of these I don't think, but also didn't want to go back and see what ones I did use so I'm just posting all of them. Also, a quote from Ashley got posted in both rounds of the Necromancer books somehow. Sorry!

HMCN:

“Well I was supposed to give you a message, but ass-face said he couldn’t trust me to get the stupid thing right, and I was lik...

BTLN Catch Up Post

Hey friends--I finished my Rough Around the Hedges edits last night at like one AM and am today a very tired Lish. I'm taking the rest of the day off after a ton of admin this morning, but I'll be back to drafting tomorrow--which means I'll be working on the next chapter of Big Trouble, Little Necromancer. (I will also have to start editing the book that's due in July. And I still have RATH copy edits. HAHAHAHAHA. Oof.)

Anyway, it's been a bit since the last chapter was posted and we ha...

Winners and a Wee Snippet

The winners of the trivia contest have been notified. Y'all did amazing. Seriously. I'm *almost* done with edits for RATH (except for copy edits and all that), so that means I'm hoping next week I'll be back to posting chapters...while I edited my other YA book that's due. I am so very tired of my own words. I want to make you tired of my words!

Wait. What?

Sorry, I get real weird when I work long days.

In the mean time, here's a wee-est of snippets from RATH from Van's poin...

Trivia, Round 6--A Little Too Familiar!

Reminder of the rules: I will post quotes from each book. You message me and tell me which characters said them. The three people who get the most correct by Wednesday June 7th will win a prize. (I'll cut off the contrast at 11:59 PM PST, 6/7).

And the prize? I will send you a free download for the audiobook for A Little Too Familiar! (If audiobooks aren't your thing, I'm willing to swap out the prize for something else fun. Just let me know if you win.)

Ready for...

Trivia, Round 5--Curses!

Reminder of the rules: I will post quotes from each book. You message me and tell me which characters said them. The three people who get the most correct by Wednesday June 7th will win a prize. (I'll cut off the contrast at 11:59 PM PST, 6/7).

And the prize? I will send you a free download for the audiobook for A Little Too Familiar! (If audiobooks aren't your thing, I'm willing to swap out the prize for something else fun. Just let me know if you win.)

Trivia round 4, Pyromantic!

Reminder of the rules: I will post quotes from each book. You message me and tell me which characters said them. The three people who get the most correct by Wednesday June 7th will win a prize. (I'll cut off the contrast at 11:59 PM PST, 6/7).

And the prize? I will send you a free download for the audiobook for A Little Too Familiar! (If audiobooks aren't your thing, I'm willing to swap out the prize for something else fun. Just let me know if you win.)

Ready for...

Trivia Round 3, Firebug!

Reminder of the rules: I will post quotes from each book. You message me and tell me which characters said them. The three people who get the most correct by Wednesday June 7th will win a prize. (I'll cut off the contrast at 11:59 PM PST, 6/7).

And the prize? I will send you a free download for the audiobook for A Little Too Familiar! (If audiobooks aren't your thing, I'm willing to swap out the prize for something else fun. Just let me know if you win.)

Ready for...

Event!

For those in the DC area, I'll be at ApollyCon next year! I've never been and it looks a little bananas in the best possible way. Check it out! I might have to think of a special something to hand out to any of my Patreon friends should any of you be able to make it!

Trivia Round 2--Necromancing the Stone!

Reminder of the rules: I will post quotes from each book. You message me and tell me which characters said them. The three people who get the most correct by Wednesday June 7th will win a prize. (I'll cut off the contrast at 11:59 PM PST, 6/7).

And the prize? I will send you a free download for the audiobook for A Little Too Familiar! I just listened to the samples today and it sounds so fun. (If audiobooks aren't your thing, I'm willing to swap out the prize for someth...

TRIVIA TIME!

So I was lamenting to Copy Editor Mel about feeling bad because while I'm editing and dealing with a truly bananas amount of stuff at home, I'm neglecting you all. Mel had a pretty fun idea--we're going to do some trivia! The rules: I will post quotes from each book. You message me and tell me which characters said them. The three people who get the most correct by Wednesday June 7th will win a prize. (I'll cut off the contrast at 11:59 PM PST, 6/7).

And the prize? I wi...

Rough Around the Hedges Snippet

I'm deep in the editing cave and I hate it. People keep interrupting me, demanding things like "food" and asking me to "pay bills" and drive people places. It's always really hard to get back into editing brain, so this vexes me deeply. This, my friends, is why writing retreats are awesome.

Did I mention that I get really whiny/irritable when I'm editing?

I'm not sure if I'll get to a chapter of BTLN this week. Editing eats my brain and I'm really trying to wrangle this book and h...

BTLN Chapter 29

This is the book Sam talks about in the beginning of this chapter. I cannot tell you how many times I checked it out of my school library. I reread it so many times, even when the stories bummed me out. (I'm looking at you, Cerberus.)

I was going to make the chapter title a lyric from a song by Styx because of course I was, but then I realized that the song I'm on a Boat was just a much better fit. That ...

TBR of Doom -- When I've looked at too many words edition

I've been editing a lot this week--between putting together my newsletter, doing a cover reveal, creating the images for that, writing the next Sam chapter, and about 800 other things. When I edit a lot, my brain becomes pudding. That's a running joke, but also reality. I edited all day yesterday, and then at dinner it took me several minutes to remember my father in law's name. (It was Jerry.)

Absolute. Pudding.

But I also have to read? I need stories or I die. (This is ...

COVER REVEAL!

I haven't shown this publicly to anyone yet--I just got the final today! I'll probably send it out in my newsletter next, but thought you, my friends, should get first look. I haven't written up the back cover summary yet, but I'll do that (hopefully) this week. Until then, LOOK AT HOW CUTE IT IS.

--Lish

PS Please don't share this on the internets yet. Thank you.