The Math Teacher From Hell- "New Witch on Campus" 3rd draft excerpt

I haven't posted any excerpts in a while and I just added this scene to my story. This is Dr. Benedict. He is Tara's math professor and he's terrible. This won't be touched upon much in this story but, down the line, I'm planning on making it a plot point. Let me know what you think.

 

They walked into the classroom and took a seat. Before they could say anything more, the instructor walked into the room.

Dr. Benedict was a tall, lanky man with a nasally, but monotone voice. Not the kind of tone you need to keep a student’s interest in math at 8:00 in the morning. But, he seemed either not to notice or not to care that half the class was beginning to doze before he finished his introduction to the syllabus. Tara and Michael managed to stay awake by slipping notes to each other. And, their shock at the start of his lecture.

“This is Math 90,” he began. “Beginning Algebra. Or, more accurately, a refresher course of what you were too stupid to pay attention to in high school.” A few heads jerked up at this and students whispered to each other until Dr. Benedict took a ruler and smacked the podium with it, shocking the class back into silence. “I don’t dick around. I don’t tolerate talking. If you can’t keep up, there’s the tutoring center or you may as well leave now and drop the class. I move fast. You have 16 weeks to learn this shit and move on to the next level of actual college level math. If you’re not on time, you fail the day. I lock the door when I enter. You miss the lecture, tough shit. Everything’s laid out on the syllabus what we’re covering each day. You’ll just have to figure it out yourself if you expect to pass my class. Your cell phones will be silenced or turned off. If I see it out, you will be asked to leave and you’ll not be marked for a whole week. You’re that stupid and need a calculator, go buy one. Don’t use your phone. I’ll just assume you’re texting or on Facebook. Now, open your packets to page 1 and we’ll go over my rules and the curriculum for this semester.”

September 10 Update

I’m so behind! *sob* If I wasn’t in pain all the time, I’d have book 2 edited, retyped, and sent off to the editor and book 3 at least mostly outlined and maybe partly written. But, nope. Pain and exhaustion was making it next to impossible to keep up with my writing. My alarm goes off at 5 a.m. and I glare at it for about 3 minutes before shutting it off and going back to bed for a few more hours and I’m still exhausted.

But, I have to get going on this. So, I’m laying out my goals to the end of the month. Starting today, I’m just diving into writing the third book. I’ll just word vomit and then worry about editing it later. It’s how I wrote a majority of book 1 anyway so it does, sometimes, work. I’ve tried to plan it out a few times but every time I’ve made the storyline insanely and unnecessarily complicated and that makes the writing part really hard because I look at my notes and think “What the hell kind of drugs am I on?”

So, this week, since I don’t have that many day job hours, I’m going to focus on word vomiting book 3 as much as I can. If I can get an average of 1500 words a day, or at least a chapter, I can get a majority of the story done before the end of the month. The main goal for this is to get this idea out of my head before I go back and edit book 2. Because the ideas for future books are distracting me and I have to get it out of my head. I think retyping book 2 will be a relatively quick process I can work on in October and send it off to the editor at last.

I’m also looking into saving for a professional cover design service I saw on another writer’s vlog. If I can redo the cover for book 1 and then have a fancy-dancy matching cover for book 2 and beyond, I’ll be very happy. I’m sure I’m not the only one who shares this opinion. I like when series covers coordinate. If nothing else, it looks pretty on the shelf.

So, since it’s September 9, and I’m almost done with chapter 1, I should be at chapter 21 by the end of the month. Which, if I follow the trend of my other books, it would be an almost complete manuscript. Now, I could do 2 or 3 chapters on off days. So, I may finish this very, very rough draft this month. I plan on taking the first weekend of October of because I will be busy celebrating my sister getting married to her long-time honey. Once all the lovey-dovey happiness and celebrating is done, then it’s back to work. And, hopefully, I’ll be back at book 2 so I can finally get it to my editor.
I also have a very special announcement! I’m offering a coupon code on my Etsy shop! Get 30% off my book at https://www.etsy.com/shop/WoCBooks when you enter the code Tumblr16 (because this was originally written on my Tumblr Blog). The code expires October 23 which is 7 months to the day I first published my novella. I do ship internationally. And, thanks to the Etsy Seller app, I’ll know right when I get an order and then I can send it off to you! I have 20 copies available currently in my home stock. If you want the ebook, here’s the Amazon link. (https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Coolersville-Book-ebook/dp/B01D81RJ0Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473472998&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=witches+of+coolersville) Paperback is also available on Amazon but I sign the ones sold on my Etsy shop.

If I get through all this and get book 2 to the editor, I’ll have a better idea when the book will be released. Aiming for early 2017. Exactly when is yet to be determined.

So, that’s it for now. I’m going to try and finish this chapter and then hit the sack. I work tomorrow evening so plenty of writing time beforehand. Maybe tomorrow will be a two chapter day. Who knows!

Have a great night. Thanks for reading and following and don’t forget to check out the links to my book!

Book 2 Update

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to post a quick update on how my Witches of Coolersville sequel is coming along. I'm editing the second draft with some Beta Feedback and looking for more to help me out. (See prior post for all the requirements) I'm also going to check out the NaNoWriMo forums to see if anyone would be interested.

I'm on vacation this week from my day job so I'll be able to do a LOT more work. I've also been reading more craft books and marketing books to continue to get the word out about my book. That's been a big help and I'm excited to start implementing some of the ideas I read about.

One thing I'm planning on is a guest blog post with my friend, Sandy. She's been working with a small press for her debut novel we're going to post on each others' blogs, not only to talk about our books but to share our different experiences in publishing. She said she's got another round of editing this week and then she should know a release date shortly after that.

Sandy is a lovely lady. We met through a pen-pal forum on the NaNoWriMo website. She's been my critique partner for both books. She sent me a draft of her book but that was right around when my computer decided to die on me so I couldn't read it. I'm so excited that she's been able to find a publisher.

I'll have more updates as the time gets closer.

Bye!
Carey

Beta Readers Wanted

Hi everyone!

 

I'm looking for more beta readers for my WoC sequel. I'm looking for girls and guys, preferably 16+, who would like to read a New Adult fantasy. You don't have to read book 1, but it would be helpful because book 1 sets up a lot of the story.

I'll have more information towards the end of the summer once I get feedback from round 1. So, if you want to read the first one, this gives you plenty of time to check out Amazon or my Etsy shop and get yourself a copy!

I'll be emailing you the second draft of my book with questions at the end of every chapter for you to answer. You will have a set time (to be determined) to read and fill out the questions and email it back to me. This draft is not professionally edited yet. I'm just looking for feedback on the story itself. Plot holes, inconsitencies, anything confusing, overall entertainment value.

 

Keep an eye out for more information as the time gets closer. Hope to hear from you!

Writing Tag

I saw this on Jenna Moreci's YouTube page. I plan on filming a collab with by friend, Lisa, but for fun I'm answering the questions by myself here.

1. A crazy hacker’s gone into your computer, and has deleted all of your music, except for one song off of your writing playlist. Which song is it?
Well, this wouldn't be an issue. I don't have a writing playlist right now outside my Pandora stations. So, that's not an issue.

2. Your protagonist and antagonist have been paired up by friends to go out to lunch together. Where do they go?
Yeah... I don't know how this would go. And, I don't want to talk too much about my book 1 protagonist because it's slowly revealed throughout the books and I don't want to give it away. I'll just say Tara would just end up being uncomfortable for a while. Book 2, there would be a fight. Book 3, one of my antagonists is this crazy billionaire running for mayor. He would pick a classic diner or steakhouse and they would just end up fighting the whole time.

3. You’re crossing a bridge when the troll living under it stops you. He demands to read a chapter from your novel, and won’t let you cross otherwise. Which chapter do you give him?
Chapter 6 is a very short chapter with an awesome dream scene. I had so much fun writing this one. Chapter 9 is a cute little date scene before the main issue arises. Then, there's chapter 20 with a big fight scene if the troll likes violence.

4. Your friends have invited you out to a party. Surprise! All of your characters are there. Who do you choose to hang out with?
This would be so fun! Yes!! Especially in book 1, I love all the characters. I'd probably sit with Gran and listen to her stories.

5. Crap. You left your car keys in your house, and you’ve (somehow) locked yourself out. Which of your characters picks the lock for you?
Darien. He's crafty and a little shady. He'd help me out with the expectation I'll repay him someday that he chooses. And, he'll also mock me for years to come until we're even.

6. The zombie apocalypse is happening right now. (It sucks.) Everyone is fleeing the planet, and moving to Mars. ONE of your characters can go with you. Who do you choose?
Hmm. As much as I'd hate to separate these two, I'd bring Lilia. She's tough and resourceful and super powerful and badass. Although, she'd probably work her way into a position of power and become queen of the planet.

7. You’ve been given the opportunity to travel to one place (town, building, landmark, country) in your book. Where do you go?
Hmm, well, since I never went to a "real college," I'd want to check out Continental College. The setting appears in book 2 of the series. It's a fairly large campus without being overwhelming. And then, just outside campus is a line of bars and clubs and shops to hang out at. It's just a cute little setting.

8. You meet your main character and start a conversation with them. Problem is, you’ve only got six words or less to do so. What do you say?
This is to start a conversation, right? So, I can use more later? Well, I'd probably say something like, "Have you read the Scarlet Trilogy?" Tara's a bookworm. So, I'd mention my favorite book series and watch her eyes light up as she talks about her passion.

9. Crazy acid rain is falling from the sky. Which of your characters would you use as an umbrella?
Easy, Abigail Tillman. She's a character in my 3rd book I'm currently working on. And, OMG, I already hate her. She's a snotty little rich girl. She is a party girl but her father is so stupid and absorbed in his own stuff that he thinks she's completely innocent and she's got him wrapped around her pinky. All she has to do is turn on the waterworks and she gets whatever she wants from him. And, when people refuse to put up with her shit, she gets Daddy involved to ruin their lives. Think a female Draco Malfoy.

10. You’re out at a restaurant with your main character, and the time has come to order dessert. What do you order for them?
Chocolate. Like me, Tara's a choco-holic. So, we'd probably order a molten brownie or something full of chocolaty goodness.


That's the writing tag! Whoever wants to do it next, feel free and I'll have another post soon. Bye!

New Website

Hey guys!
Real quick before I have to head out for the evening. I have a web site! Check it out here. It's hosted through VistaPrint and it's been really easy to put together. I'm slowly getting info up a little every day so I'll keep you all updated. Since I already have 2 blogs, the one on my web site will be strictly book news. Unless it's something I really want to share. Then I'll copy it here as well. Possibly in my RA one as well.

Later!
Carey

My Book is Out At Last!

Here it is! My book! I finally published it! Here's a look at my final cover design for my first book in the Witches of Coolersville series. 140 pages, 2 years of hard work, 1 1/2 years of talking about publishing, and I finally did it. I was going to originally have it out after Easter but I couldn't wait.

I took the leap. After trying and modifying for nearly a week, I did it! I'm so happy that this day has finally arrived.

I'm currently working on my sequel, although it's coming along slower than I'd like. But, now that book 1 is out, I will hopefully have more motivation to work on the next.

Here's the link for the physical book- http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Coolersville-Book/dp/1505607566/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458531235&sr=1-1

Here is the link to the Kindle e-book- http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Coolersville-Book-ebook/dp/B01D81RJ0Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458531235&sr=1-2