Hi Everyone,

The website is now up and running and developing nicely. I can't wait until I have the cover of "Harcourt's Mountain" in there. And then "The Device Hunter"! I will be posting my blogs on my Facebook page as well as here. So no-one will miss out.

Isn't it odd how we discover that spark that explodes our dreams from hope into reality? Sometimes we know what we want to do as kids and when we grow up it happens. Hurrah! Bells, whistles, dancing girls, annoying paparazzi.

But that seldom happens. 

The rest of us chase these dreams from job to job, pushing as hard as we can to make those dreams reality. Until something happens. We either snap and give up in despair, or we realize that it wasn't external forces but rather internal ones keeping us earth bound. 

"Making movies" was always my dream. Until I started writing my first novel. It was then I realized that it wasn't so much making movies as telling stories that I always wanted to do. 

Outside of my full time job, when I'm writing, my life makes sense. I get up and go to bed at reasonable and regular hours, I get exercise, and lose weight, I eat better - even managing those elusive three meals a day and eight glasses of water that escape me at other times. My happiness level soars. I feel most alive when I'm writing, my stress levels disappear. I find myself smiling a lot more. Of course, there's also the complete obsession with the book. Very little exists beyond the universe and the characters on the page. But who cares! HERE'S TO WRITING!

Hi everyone,
I am constantly amazed at how inanimate objects have a life of their own. Glasses will leap out your hand to commit suicide on the kitchen floor. Metal door handles develop an evil side in winter and will zap you as you try to open them - for no discernible reason, except that they can. Experts will tell you that computers will only do what you tell them. This is patently untrue, certainly as far as mine is concerned. It has a life of it's own, and it's not one always filled with good intentions.

Books have an even stronger life force. "Harcourt's Mountain" was a pleasant working partner. It allowed me to plot it before I started writing. I had ever chapter, every scene neatly pasted into a spread sheet and could pick and choose whichever scene I felt like writing that day.

Book 2 - "The Device Hunter" is an entirely different beast. It won't play nicely. It stands there glaring at me like one of those children in the playground who have their arms firmly folded over their chests, bottom lips sticking out, muttering, "I won't and you can't make me," whenever you approach! Bizarre as this might seem to non-writers, it's true nevertheless. I have the overall story in my head, but the book will simply not let me plot more than 2 chapters in advance.

This has consequences. One of which is, as hard as I try, I'm not getting very far, very quickly. Terribly frustrating. The other is my timings in "The Device Hunter" have become a tad screwy. And THAT means I have to stop writing and get it sorted out. I can see another spreadsheet in my immediate future.

It certainly is an adventure. And despite the frustration, one I am thoroughly enjoying. I love writing.

Hi everyone,
You can read a synopsis and an excerpt from my book, "Harcourt's Mountain", on the Tirgearr website. Here's the link:
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Dodge_Elaine/harcourts-mountain.htm

The launch date for the book is 15 August 2013.  Just around the corner. It's so unreal. I feel like I'm eating at the grown-ups table.

Hi everyone,
It's only day 2 of my blog and the response has been fabulous. Things are moving swiftly and August will be here before you know it. The thought that my book, "Harcourt's Mountain", will then be available is both exhilerating and frightening. Now that I am making headway with the website, all that's left is planning a launch party. Good times!

Hi Everyone.
If you have visited my Facebook page before then this post will be familiar to you. I plan to post the same blogs both on Facebook and here on the website.

My novel, "Harcourt's Mountain" is due out in August 2013. It's been an exciting journey, from the first word I wrote to this moment.  So exciting that while the publishers - Tirgearr Publishing - are doing their thing getting the manuscript and the cover ready, I have thundered ahead and have written the first 15 chapters of  my second novel. "The Device Hunter", as it's called, is proving a challenge. But one I am thoroughly enjoying.