Something is Brewing...

And I can't wait until it is done!

This week has been hard on me. I went on vacation this past weekend. I had one of my final presentations yesterday. I have to present another in two days. I want to kick back and relax, but I can't. I want my sister to finish my book...but that isn't going to happen as quickly as I would like.

Yes, you read that correctly. This time around, I'm having one of my sisters read my draft before everyone else. She volunteered to be my editor...and she's taking her job very seriously, writing notes and calling me on the phone to discuss things. I am hoping that she will be done in two or three months so we can cut deep into Brewing Our Trouble. I am so excited. I literally Cannot Wait. And it's distracting me from doing my school work. Why, oh why, am I taking a summer class again?

A side note: It's Harry Potter's birthday! It's JK Rowling's birthday! It's my nephew's birthday! Celebrations! I really don't want to do anything productive tonight.

Because I am in such a good mood and in honor this special day, I've decided to reveal something about my third book. Yes, that's right: my third book. Don't worry: no spoilers. I was even thinking about revealing the book title, but... I think I'll hold onto that juicy secret for a little while longer.

Instead, I shall confirm that in the third book I will be shifting away from Cassie and focusing on Elsie. I know that this might disappoint some Cassie fans, but there is a reason, I promise. Actually, there are many reasons. By the time you finish the third book, especially the epilogue, hopefully everyone will understand.

Are you excited for my second book release? As of right now, I'm hoping for a November release date. I shall confirm my picked release night when the story is finished and my team and I start working on the cover.

Oh, and if you're interested, I've also posted the summary of Brewing Our Trouble. Head over to my "Magic Spells Trilogy" tab here on the blog for a sneak peak into what is in store for the five magical friends. But, please, keep in mind that even the summary is going through editing.

You're welcome.

Happy International Mermaid Day!

Good Morning Fellow Mermaid Lovers!

It's been a while since I've posted. I am sorry. Life is an extreme ride with so many jobs and assignments, filled with the drama of social life splashed into the mix. 


Seeing as it's International Mermaid Day, I figured that I'd update you on the progress of my second book. I believe that I only have two more chapters to write (and the epilogue), and then it will be finished!! Now, if only I could find the time to actually write those few chapters...

Cassie says: "Hi, lovely readers! Dillon, Diana, Thomas, and I can't wait to have you read about our adventures again! We miss you. Don't be a siren! Lots of love!"

Here's to hoping that Brewing Our Trouble is published this November!

~AEB

Final Woes

Not in the sense of death, but what we call "Dead Week" at my university. Dead week is the week before finals. The rule of the university (which some professors have blatantly ignored before) is that the professors must not give tests. This is probably (in theory) to lighten the load of us students the week before finals. I'm not sure why it is given that name, but I, personally, call it "Drop Dead Week", because it is the week I feel immense stress and fatigue. This year, however, my set of professors seem to have the same thought: "We'll have everything due during Dead week and finals week will be less stressful." Yeah...but that just means that this week (the week before Drop Dead Week) is even harder. I'm not sure your logic is helpful. At all.

One of the ways I'm half-way surviving is that I'm letting myself take breaks (usually 10-30 minutes). And what do I do during these breaks? Well, lately I've been writing! Yes, this is an update! Chapter 23 is done!

That's all for now. Wish us all luck this week, Drop Dead Week, and Finals week.

How a Trilogy is Killing Me

I have read several trilogies. I have read many book series. Trust me, I know how much of a pain it is to be a reader: always waiting, waiting, Waiting for the next book to come out to find out what is going to happen next. And it just about kills me as a reader. Sometimes, to avoid this situation, I put a book on my to-read list and leave it there for years until I'm sure that the author is done with it. Then, I can read it all in three months or three days...depending on how hooked I am and what is happening in my life.

But...I have to say...writing a trilogy is almost killing me too! As I write, it is like I'm watching a movie in my mind. Another way to explain it would be like saying that I'm reading what I'm writing. The only difference is that I know the big scenes that will eventually be written. I know how the main plots are going to be played out. I know the reasons why the villains are doing what they are doing and the protagonists main weaknesses...and who's going to call them out on it. 

And (sorry for being redundant...no, actually I'm not sorry), It's Killing Me!

Writing half of a chapter takes a lot more brain power than what I actually realize...that is, I don't realize until I take a moment to take my fingers off the keyboard and think about nothing for a moment. Then I notice that my head is starting to ache. Sometimes I need to stop its so bad. Other times I just can't stop. Sound familiar, fellow bookworms? Like those times when you are in the middle of a really, really good book and it's two a.m., but you just can't stop...that would be ridiculous! Yes, it would. Especially if you know what's coming, but don't know exactly when and under what circumstances.

That is what it is like for me right now. The main reason I want to finish the second book with Cassie and the gang is to start the next book. I want to experience what will happen just as I wanted to experience what would happen when I read "The Lady of Bolton Hill" by Elizabeth Camden. Oh, and the hundreds of other good books I've ever read.

To sum up: bookworm pain is extremely similar to writer pain.

Recent Writings

Finding time to write is very hard when I go to college, help out with nephews and nieces, and have a job. I get so busy that I sometimes don't have time to write for months. Then, when I suddenly have time, I don't exactly know what to write anymore.

That's where I am right now. But, as many other writers have said, I am not giving up. Writing is a process that needs to be done as much as possible. Even if I get only one paragraph done per day, it's still good.

I thought you'd like an update. The second book, compared to the first, is getting done rather quickly. I wrote chapter 5 of "Casting..." three years after I started it. It hasn't been a year since publishing the first book and I'm already done with fourteen chapters of the first draft of the second. I feel that I am doing very well, all things considered.

Now, it's time to get back to writing...

Explaining the Blog Title

So, if I take all this time to name my characters and chapter titles (literally Hours for the chapter titles. I am a bit frustrated I even did that for "Casting", because now I feel like I have to make some for the second book...but I haven't started doing that for it yet, even though I'm almost done with chapter 12), then I must have had a reason for naming this blog "Magical Mysteries", right?

Yes. But it wasn't nearly as hard as naming chapters. I chose "Magical Mysteries", because my trilogy deals with magic (duh) and while I think I give my books (at least, "Casting My Heart") a mystery-like writing style. Whenever my cousin would read my first draft (I didn't have her read the other drafts) she would always say "What does this mean?! Why did you stop?! I need more! You are so mean for stopping there!". And I loved it! I loved (and still do) the feeling of knowing that I understand everything and my readers have to keep reading to figure out what is each character and their motivations along with their characteristics. And, especially, how they fit into each other's lives. I love this so much, that I don't think that I'll change this way of writing. Maybe...but probably not.

So, what happens after I finish the "Magic Spells Trilogy"? I'll keep writing fantasy, right? Ummm...actually, no. Not necessarily. Don't get me wrong, I Love writing fantasy. But I also love historical fiction and murder mysteries and Christian fiction and sci-fi (a little...). So, why did I pick "Magical"? Because I believe that all books, no matter what genre, are magical. 

So, what do I have planned after Cassie, Dillon, Diana, Thomas, and Elsie? Two big projects are on my radar. One is a stand alone novel; another fantasy-like novel that involves two different worlds (again), but...yeah...I can't give too much away.

My other project that I would really like to write is a series. I'm not sure how long the series would be in its entirety: maybe it won't be a series, but I really want it to be one. Unlike my other books, this one will not have any fantasy elements in it. I can't say much about it (I want it to be a grand surprise AND who knows? Maybe I'll never get to it. But that would be a real shame. I love this idea) However, I think it's okay to tell you that it will be a murder mystery (hopefully mysteries!) set in New England during the 1870s. And that's all I am going to reveal.

Until next time, my wonderful readers!

New French Blog!

I have big news! Unfortunately, it's not book related....but it's still awesome!

I have been accepted to go abroad for three weeks to France this June! I am so excited, you can't imagine! I have already started a blog that I want to post to while I am there. Check it out!
http://flighttofrance.blogspot.com/

 I suppose it kind of connects to "Casting My Heart" in that I used the French word for "mermaid" for my sirens (la sirène). There. I was able to connect it to my writing.