Kate Rivet

Hello everyone!

This is just a quick update for something near and dear to my heart (as the title of this post would indicate!).  As November approaches, the NaNoWriMo insanity is starting to get closer, and I wanted to post a quick link to my Classy.org donation page for NaNo.  NaNoWriMo, if you didn’t know, is a non-profit organization.  It’s not just November where they’re active — they do many different things throughout the year.  One facet, which I find SO important, is the literacy outreach work that they do.  I may be ten years removed from high school, but I do remember those years, as well as the ones before it.  As a creative kid, I always needed an outlet for my ideas.  In middle school, I was extremely active with the literary magazines, as well as the school newspaper.  I was a bit busier in high school with the band and other activities, but you’d better bet that I was writing short stories and webzine articles and all kinds of things on my own then.  If I hadn’t had a creative outlet or people encouraging me, then I would’ve been a different person today.  We’re now living a time where schools are lacking funding, and they’re starting to cut arts programs first.  To me, this is entirely unacceptable.  My mother is a teacher herself, and I can speak for the fact that many of her teacher friends in the arts are finding it hard to get funds, and are supplementing their projects with their own money.  One of my mom’s friends, who’s a librarian, found her position cut this year.  I was AGHAST when I heard this!  I know school libraries aren’t entirely what they were when I was young — I mean, there’s no flipping through the card catalogue to search for books using the Dewey decimal system (thank goodness!), but the librarians who worked in my schools were always such an invaluable part of helping me create and encouraging me to continue to read.

I know that I have friends whose kids just aren’t as into reading as we were back in the pre-iPad/iPhone/electronics days, but I do still think that kids need the exposure to these things, as well as the encouragement to create their own works.  This is exactly why I’m such a big supporter of NaNo’s community outreach.  As you can tell if you check out my reading list page here, I’m also a giant fan of reading, even to this very day.  So far, I’ve read over 150 books alone just in 2015, and I’m not done yet!  If others aren’t encouraged to read, then where will we get new, fresh voices from?

To wrap this post up, I’m going to post the link to my Classy page.  If you’ve got anything to spare at all, from one dollar to one hundred dollars — WHATEVER the amount, please consider donating something to help support NaNoWriMo and their amazing work.  I’ve met a lot of people over the past few years doing NaNo, and I know it’s left an important mark on all of our lives.  Let’s help ensure that the future will continue to have lots of different literary voices!

Here is my Classy link, and feel free to share it with anyone you know who may also want to donate to a great cause — and thank you in advance! — Classy.org/KateRivet

Until next time,
Kate

Hey everyone!

Ever taken a well-deserved break from something and found it hard to get back into the saddle again?  That’s where I’m at right now!  I’ve written SO many books back to back at this point now that when I finished Living for Adventure, I decided that I was overdue for a little rest from writing.  I finished the edits that needed done and the expansion that also had needed done, then after I sent off the copy that ended up as the nearly done manuscript, I put aside the word processors and took some time to myself to read again and immerse myself fully in the outside world once again.  It’s been a few months now, but I’ve been feeling the draw to the keyboard hard again lately, and so I’ve sorted through my list of story ideas and settled on one.

It’s that time again, though, where I second-guess EVERY part of my process.  “IS this actually a good enough idea?”, “The first paragraph, is that even something I’d want to read past?”, “Ugh, these characters!  Am I going to be able to fully develop them after all?” and all the other assorted what-if type questions are running through my head and making it nearly impossible to get going.  I know I thrive under pressure and deadlines, but I don’t really feel comfortable issuing one for myself this time because my real job has been so intense lately that I’m not sure I could meet it.

Either way, I guess it’s just a great thing to be back at the keyboard and working up the ideas for my latest story.  It’s a bit different from my previous works, as they all seem to be these days, but I think it’s got some real potential.  With any luck, I’ll be done with the first draft by the time NaNoWriMo rolls around — just in time to start another project!

Before I leave you again for my well-loved copy of Word, I want to remind you all that my second book, Living for Adventure, is available on Amazon!  Click here to check it out — it’s only 99¢ USD, so it’s cheaper than most things you’d buy, and I’d love to hear your feedback on it!

Until next time,
Kate

Hello!

It’s been a little while, hasn’t it?  It took me a little while to get my beta reads back plus do the edits, and of course I had two little trips — Canada to see my best friend marry her other half, and Iceland to enjoy myself and take a little time away — but I’m back!

I’ve got some really great news, though, as a reward for sticking around with me!  That’s right, I’ve finished EVERYTHING needed to get my next book out, and it’s NOW AVAILABLE for your consumption 🙂  I’ve really put a lot of myself into it — it’s called Living for Adventure, and is about a girl who gives up her regular life to travel the world.  It’s very similar to me in this sense, though I can’t say that I’m from a blue blood family, nor do I have a trust fund that would enable me to roam the world as I wished!

I really hope you guys enjoy this one; it was a Camp NaNoWriMo project that I felt passionate about, and I know that my beta readers really enjoyed it!  As promised, it’s available for JUST 99¢, and it will stay that way unless I run free sales on it!  You can grab it HERE, and I hope you like the cover — it’s made from a photo I snapped while in Iceland! 🙂

Also!  If you haven’t yet picked up Roads to Love, it’s going back on sale for FREE!!  There was a sale while I was in Iceland, so I didn’t do a whole lot of promotion, but it’s also going to be available on September 6th and September 9th — my grandma and my dad’s birthdays, respectively — so make sure you or your friends grab it while it’s on promotion if you haven’t scooped it up yet!

Well, that’s it for me right now!

Until next time,
Kate

Hi everyone!

I’ve got some great news to share with you briefly — besides the obligatory Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans!

I literally JUST finished the edits on Living for Adventure!  It stands at about 20,200 words and has just been sent to my beta reader!  As soon as I get the critique from her and fix any errors she might find, I’ll be taking the cover photo and setting it up on Amazon!  I can’t wait to share this latest novella with you all, and I’m planning to make it a 99¢ book as a thank you for everyone who’s bought my first book and as a great introduction for those who haven’t read my works yet.

I hope you all have a great night, and if you’re celebrating the holidays as I am, that you stay safe but have a great evening!  I’m getting ready to leave for the fireworks here myself 🙂

Until next time,
Kate

Hello everyone!

I hope you’re all enjoying your summers so far!  My vacations are still not here yet, but they’re fast approaching!  First I’m heading to Canada to visit my best friend and attend her wedding, then I’m off to Reykjavík, Iceland — which also features in the novella I’m still working at, now more than ever!

Remember how I was documenting my goal of reading at least 100 books, with at least 50 being new reads?  I’m happy to announce that, as of yesterday, both goals are 100% achieved!  Not only did I read 100 books so far this year, but *85* of them were new reads, instead of just 50!  I’ve read a lot of great books so far, and plan to read a lot more!  Unfortunately, I can’t seem to do a lot of good writing and editing while reading, so I’m putting that on the back burner while I really push to get this novella finished and published before taking off towards Canada!

Are any of my readers out there going on any great trips this summer, or have you been on one already?  I’d love to hear about it!  My perpeptual case of wanderlust is really in overdrive right now, and I really wish that I could take off and explore the world like the heroine in my novella!  Besides my two trips this summer, I wish I could go visit Australia and New Zealand over the winter, but it looks like I may at least get a short vacation in around my birthday — I’m not sure where yet, but chances are good that it’s going to be a city I’ve never visited before, so fingers crossed!

Anyway, I’m going to end this here and get back to the good stuff so you can all take Alex’s journey alongside of her sooner rather than later!

Until next time,
Kate

Hello readers!

I’ve been feeling pretty bummed lately that my editing is taking a backseat to both my day job as well as the gym (I’m making real strides in feeling confident about myself at least!).  As a little treat since it’s been a while since I’ve had anything good to post for you all, I’ve decided to release the prologue as it stands today as a little sneak peek at Living For Adventure!

Want to see what’s in store?  Click here to check out what I’ve got lined up next for you!

I’m going to make this short and sweet so I can get back into the groove of editing what I’ve got ready for you all before I take another night off tomorrow to go enjoy Ed Sheeran live in concert for the second time!

Until next time,
Kate

Hello everyone!  I hope April has been very good to you!  I don’t have much to report, hence why I’ve been somewhat MIA.  I took a lot of this month off because my 9-5 job has been insanely busy as of late, but I also joined a gym for the first time, which is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long while.  I have what’s known as chondromalacia patella, which is also commonly referred to as runners’ knee.  It’s ironic to me because I never ran until last year, though I’ve had this since I was a preteen.  As a result, the winters are especially hard on me, and I don’t do a lot of physical activity outside running around like a lunatic for 40 hours a week at work.  Every year, I gain around 10-15 lbs because of this; it then comes back off when the spring comes and I’m able to start walking again.  I figured that, with the low cost to the gym that just opened up near me, I’d give in and get access to the machines that I’ve always wanted to use when it’s cold or just ugly outside.  I’ve been there probably 6 or 7 times now, and I absolutely love it!  It’s early days, but I’m already feeling stronger, and I’ve lost 5 lbs so far 🙂

I’m planning to spend some of my weekend time working on edits for the next couple of weeks, and I’m thinking I could do an hour or so tonight if I want.  I’m only about 8,000 words from where I want this novella to be before I put it onto Amazon, so hopefully it won’t take me too long to get it done!  I’m pleased with how this came out, even though it was just a short distraction, so I’m really hoping that everyone will enjoy it when it finally comes out.

Other than that, all I’ve done is read a bunch of books!  Don’t forget to check out my reading list up at the top of this page — I’m now into the 60’s number-wise, and I’ve achieved my goal of reading at least 50 new books so far this year!  If you’re looking to learn more about any of those books or even just chat about them, you can always tweet or email me; I’m always happy to talk books!

I’m hoping you’ve all enjoyed some lovely weather this month, unlike the weather here in Pittsburgh!  We had one good weekend, but everything else really has been hit or miss.  Here’s hoping for a beautiful (and not TOO hot) summer!

Until next time,
Kate

The numbers are in, the numbers are in!  After 5 days of giving my book away, I’m shocked to be able to say that I’ve managed to get a whopping TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN books into new hands!  Now, I’ll be the first to say that my book probably won’t be winning any prizes, but I thought it was a good one to put out there, and I’m truly humbled at the response to this sale.  Sales have been sluggish, with most of them coming as soon as the book was released, but I’m so beyond grateful for the opportunity for this book to be out and circulating!  If you’ve read it and you’ve enjoyed it — please continue to pass along word to your friends and please leave a nice review!  Knowing that people are reading my first published book truly makes me a happy camper 🙂

And I can also announce that MY camping for Camp NaNoWriMo is done!  Well — I should say that my first draft is done at 12,396 total words, but I’m planning to go back and edit starting very soon, and hopefully it will round out at just about 20,000 words to qualify as a true novella.  Once I’m satisfied with it, I’ll be getting that one prepped for Amazon as well.  I’m thinking a 99¢ price sounds good for a novella, especially something to get people interested in my writing!  The working title is Living for Adventure, but that’s not set in stone.

Anyway, I really want to say a huge thank you once again to everyone who picked up my book, as well as those who helped me promote the sale.  I appreciate every single one of you helping my dreams to come true!

Until next time,
Kate

Hello everyone!  I’ve been busy on my self-directed vacation from writing for the past month-ish since I finished writing A Royal Risk!  In that time, I’ve read a bunch of great books, including the Dorothy Must Die series by Danielle Paige (it got me hooked right away!).  As of today, I’m at 50 books out of my goal of 100, which means I’ll probably blow that goal right out of the water in no time.  I’ve spent my time thinking of other ideas, which I haven’t been writing down because this was supposed to be a vacation from it all!

But I guess writing is more than just something I do as a hobby — I think writing has truly become a part of my DNA.  I will make every attempt to take a break, but then an idea comes along and I can’t help but start on it.  I get almost a tingly feeling, like an itch you can’t scratch, if I don’t set aside time and write sometimes.  It doesn’t have to be the next great American novel or anything, but sometimes I just need to get started on a project — even if it just sits unfinished for me to come back to one day.

As a result of the subconscious need to start something to write, I began a new short story on April 1st, for Camp NaNoWriMo!  I’ve never done Camp before, but I knew that it was a lot more relaxed than the big event in November.  You can set your own goal for Camp — mine is 10,000 words — and you’ve got the 30 days of April to bang out your story.  I realized a little early on that 10,000 words would be a piece of cake for me, especially since I’ve done 50,000 in 15 days before, but I figured that 10,000 would let me lay the foundation for something that might end up around 20,000 one day that I could sell for either 99¢ or even maybe distribute for free.

Speaking of free, I put my book, Roads to Love, on sale on Amazon this week for free.  The sale started today, and it’ll run through Thursday the 9th.  So far, at last check, I’ve moved 26 units today alone.  That’s definitely a daily record, though I wish more people would have picked it up when I ran the 99¢/$1.99 sale previously!  Either way, I’m just glad people are picking up my work and might spread along to their friends to pick it up if they enjoy it!  If you didn’t catch that subtle link earlier, I’ll hit you in the face with it now: PLEASE PICK UP MY BOOK NOW, OR LET YOUR FRIENDS KNOW IT’S FREE RIGHT NOW IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO LIKES ROMANCE AND WILL TRY A NEW AUTHOR 😉

Anyway, back to Camp NaNo – I wrote 2,010 words on day 1, which put me at nearly a quarter of my goal right away.  I was a bit busy the next day, so I only got to 3,001 words, but was now more than a quarter finished with the goal.  The next day was even busier, so I did what I rarely do — allowed myself a day off.  I rebounded yesterday and hit 5,026 words, so I’m now past the halfway mark!  I’ve got an idea where this story is going, and I hope that it turns out what I’d like it to.  The idea came to me slowly on the first, but once it did, I realized that this is a love letter of sorts to my travels and some of the people I’ve met along the way.

My summer should bring lots more ideas for stories — in July, I’m taking a road trip to Canada to visit my best friend and be there for her wedding!  It should definitely be interesting, since I’ve never driven that far on my own before.  After that, I’ll be home for a month (and visiting with my friend Kassie from Chicago, the one whose mother I wrote about a good few posts back now!), then I’m off to Reykjavík, Iceland!  I’m very much so looking forward to all the new things I’ll be exposed to this summer, since they will only serve to strengthen my writing.

Anyway, I hope you’re all having a good weekend — and Happy Passover and Happy Easter to those who celebrate these holidays! — and I will be back to write soon, hopefully when I finish this presently-unnamed story!

Until next time,
Kate

It finally happened!  I finished my 9th book overall, presently titled “A Royal Risk”!  It took me around 3 or 4 months, give or take, and 62,500 words, but the first draft is officially finished.  With much perseverance that occasionally required some deep digging into my creativity stores, I can happily say that I finished something that was close to the edges of my comfort zone.  In this book, I not only invented a new country (it’s called Ängsmark!), but it’s also about a royal family, as the title kind of gives away.  I might be a serious anglophile, but I wouldn’t say that I’m any type of expert on the royal family.  I’ve been outside Buckingham Palace and along the Mall, but I’ve never seen inside the palace (well, except for official photos online!).  My royal family is a lot more laid back, though — their country is small, and they pride themselves on being pretty down-to-earth.  That’s not to say that their lives are completely normal (they have homes in various cities in the country!  they live in a castle in the capital city!), but they like that they have such a close-knit country.

So what’s next for my invented country?  Well, I’m not sure yet!  I’ve been writing things back to back to back for so long that I’m booking myself a solid month or two away from it!  I finished the novel I was working on before NaNoWriMo literally six days before NaNo Madness descended, then I did my NaNo book, edited it, and published it all while starting A Royal Risk!  Three books in a row have definitely earned me a little time to sit back and enjoy one of my favorite pasttimes properly again: reading!  I hope March brings you all something fun to read, just like I hope it does me!  I’ve already read two books since finishing NaNo, and I urge you to keep checking in on my reading list page (on the tabs up top!).

Until next time,
Kate