Along the lines of my previous post...this entry from author Marissa Scott cracked me up. I know we all sound a bit looney tunes when we talk about the voices and whispers in our head, but it happens and I think most of us love it...even though those people in your head can be quite demanding. Linnea Sinclair talks about writing Gabriel's Ghost in 34 days because Sully, the hero, just would not leave her alone.
I'll tell you what, though, it's like those old commercials for E.F. Hutton...when they talk, we listen! And take notes, usually...
*grin*
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
A note to Future Stacey...
I love writing! Duh, but still...
I've been playing with an idea for a week or so now, and I did not have a first name for the central person in the story. I already had an idea of what she looked like, even what she sounded like, but no name. In the past, I think I might have tried to force it. Or, the lack of a name might have bugged me enough to interfere with me exploring the various facets of the idea.
Sidenote: I do a lot of exploring for an idea before I ever "write" a word, which basically amounts to asking a lot of questions--of myself but also of the people whose story I've been charged with telling--and following the answers down different paths, checking out possibilities, until the right one appears. Other writers do this same thing in various ways. Often there are so many ways a story could go, you have to make sure you're understanding what you're being told before you start writing. At least, I do. It's my version of responsible journalism. : )
The idea of exploring an idea is akin to letting something simmer until boils over. I have to do the right amount of exploring until I'm practically bursting to write the story before I sit down and write. Trying to force it into happening faster or earlier is not a good idea. It means I haven't firmly settled on the right path. Some other paths are still possibly beckoning to me. That translates to an indecisive wreck of a writer, so I try not to do that.
Anyway, today, I was exploring, just playing, really as usual. (Exploring is my favorite phase, I think!) And the name I'd been waiting for was suddenly just there, whispered in my head and coming out of my pen. I love it when that happens. Right in the middle of the paragraph. Two sentences before I didn't know her name. Had to keep using generic pronouns. But then, there she was. I just freaking love that!!!
The lesson in this for me--because I use this blog to remind myself of important stuff I figure out about my process along the way--is that if I'd gotten all stiff and uptight about not knowing her name, it might never have happened that way or I might have tried to force something that just wasn't ready.
So, Future Stacey, explore and simmer away--there's value in it and you'll know when you've reached the boiling point.
I've been playing with an idea for a week or so now, and I did not have a first name for the central person in the story. I already had an idea of what she looked like, even what she sounded like, but no name. In the past, I think I might have tried to force it. Or, the lack of a name might have bugged me enough to interfere with me exploring the various facets of the idea.
Sidenote: I do a lot of exploring for an idea before I ever "write" a word, which basically amounts to asking a lot of questions--of myself but also of the people whose story I've been charged with telling--and following the answers down different paths, checking out possibilities, until the right one appears. Other writers do this same thing in various ways. Often there are so many ways a story could go, you have to make sure you're understanding what you're being told before you start writing. At least, I do. It's my version of responsible journalism. : )
The idea of exploring an idea is akin to letting something simmer until boils over. I have to do the right amount of exploring until I'm practically bursting to write the story before I sit down and write. Trying to force it into happening faster or earlier is not a good idea. It means I haven't firmly settled on the right path. Some other paths are still possibly beckoning to me. That translates to an indecisive wreck of a writer, so I try not to do that.
Anyway, today, I was exploring, just playing, really as usual. (Exploring is my favorite phase, I think!) And the name I'd been waiting for was suddenly just there, whispered in my head and coming out of my pen. I love it when that happens. Right in the middle of the paragraph. Two sentences before I didn't know her name. Had to keep using generic pronouns. But then, there she was. I just freaking love that!!!
The lesson in this for me--because I use this blog to remind myself of important stuff I figure out about my process along the way--is that if I'd gotten all stiff and uptight about not knowing her name, it might never have happened that way or I might have tried to force something that just wasn't ready.
So, Future Stacey, explore and simmer away--there's value in it and you'll know when you've reached the boiling point.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Weirdest place to get ideas...
One of the things I love about RT is getting together with other writers and finding out what works for them. Whether it's a certain type of computer, a method of editing or revising, or whatever...
This year, in many conversations, I kept hearing how many of us think of new story ideas, solutions for tricky scenes and good bits of dialogue whilst (do you like that? I'm feeling very anachronistic today) showering. I suspect it's because the environment is fairly relaxing, there are few (if any) distractions, and it's the rare bit bit of private time during which it's acceptable to stare off at nothing and think of random bits of things...unlike, say, when you're driving. : )
Anyway, fabulous fantasy author, Lisa Shearin, mentioned something about shower markers, so when I had a minute this week, I went a-Googling and found the following:
Crayola Bathtub Markers
Woot! If they have these in Target, I'm picking some up, just to give them a whirl. Though, knowing me, I won't want to erase what I've written until I've got it [the scene, the character's motivation, whatever] all worked out, so our shower doors could could become quite colorful over the course of a week or so!
Side note: I also found this blog entry, 10+ Things to do with Dry-Erase Markers, which I thought was great. I never would have thought of all the ways to use dry-erase markers and I LOVE them. Okay, so it doesn't exactly work for those shower brainstorm moments, but I like a lot of the ideas he has!
Anybody ever used tub markers at home? Do they come off easily enough? We have glass shower doors so that's what I'd be writing on...Thoughts?
This year, in many conversations, I kept hearing how many of us think of new story ideas, solutions for tricky scenes and good bits of dialogue whilst (do you like that? I'm feeling very anachronistic today) showering. I suspect it's because the environment is fairly relaxing, there are few (if any) distractions, and it's the rare bit bit of private time during which it's acceptable to stare off at nothing and think of random bits of things...unlike, say, when you're driving. : )
Anyway, fabulous fantasy author, Lisa Shearin, mentioned something about shower markers, so when I had a minute this week, I went a-Googling and found the following:
Crayola Bathtub Markers
Woot! If they have these in Target, I'm picking some up, just to give them a whirl. Though, knowing me, I won't want to erase what I've written until I've got it [the scene, the character's motivation, whatever] all worked out, so our shower doors could could become quite colorful over the course of a week or so!
Side note: I also found this blog entry, 10+ Things to do with Dry-Erase Markers, which I thought was great. I never would have thought of all the ways to use dry-erase markers and I LOVE them. Okay, so it doesn't exactly work for those shower brainstorm moments, but I like a lot of the ideas he has!
Anybody ever used tub markers at home? Do they come off easily enough? We have glass shower doors so that's what I'd be writing on...Thoughts?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
What he said...
I've been writing long enough now to recognize that in every book there will be scenes that nearly kill you in the writing of them. It may not even be an emotional, climactic scene. I don't know why it is that some scenes do this--refuse to die, as I call it--and others don't. I can't even predict which ones are going to make me wrestle them to the ground and which ones will go quietly. I was intrigued, then, to discover that this happens to screenwriters as well and John August, whose blog I LOVE, talks about what he does to work through the scene. What I found most interesting is that the questions he asks himself are some of the same I use when I'm wrestling with a difficult scene. (And it is wrestling--sweaty, backbreaking, frustrating, so close to pinning it down and yet so far.) ETA: Not that it would be surprising for a novelist and a screenwriter to use similar questions, but I was surprised to find that many of the questions I sort of discovered on my own, after hours or days of head pounding against the wall struggling, are ones he has and uses as well. So...cool! I must be doing something right! : )
The following is from his blog entry called the Six Hour Scene:
The following is from his blog entry called the Six Hour Scene:
After writing three comparatively easy scenes, I took another stab at it. I asked some obvious-but-necessary questions:
- Was I starting at the right place?
- Was I ending at the right place?
- Could another character drive the scene?
- Would changing the location help?
- Did it need to be two scenes, rather than one?
- Did the scene even need to exist?
The answers confirmed my frustration: it was the right scene. It was just a bitch to write.
Jump over to his site and read the whole entry. It's both interesting and helpful, a rare combination in the world of writing advice, IMO.
: )
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
What is that big ball of glowing yellow light in the sky?
I swear, I'm not saying this to rub it in but...I'm leaving for a few days to attend a seminar. In FLORIDA! Woohoo!!!!
I'm going to be hanging out with Linnea, and we'll be attending a seminar taught by the great and powerful literary agent Donald Maass. : ) I'm very excited! Writers speak his name in a hushed and reverant whisper, so it'll be interesting to see what he has to say. I've taken classes from people who've taken classes from him and use his techniques and found them to be helpful when it comes to viewing common writing problems in a different way. So, that's great. I'm really hoping to come away with some new methods to try and new ways of thinking, and I'm grateful to Linnea for getting me in to the class. However, I fear I will be fighting back a case of the giggles as well as the urge to whisper, "the man, the myth, the legend" when he's introduced. : )
Anyway, this is my long and roundabout way of saying that I'll be gone for the next few days. Don't know how often I'll be able to post from the road, especially because I have another round of EOB edits that must get done. But I didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you, and I'll be full of details and photos when I get back!
I'm going to be hanging out with Linnea, and we'll be attending a seminar taught by the great and powerful literary agent Donald Maass. : ) I'm very excited! Writers speak his name in a hushed and reverant whisper, so it'll be interesting to see what he has to say. I've taken classes from people who've taken classes from him and use his techniques and found them to be helpful when it comes to viewing common writing problems in a different way. So, that's great. I'm really hoping to come away with some new methods to try and new ways of thinking, and I'm grateful to Linnea for getting me in to the class. However, I fear I will be fighting back a case of the giggles as well as the urge to whisper, "the man, the myth, the legend" when he's introduced. : )
Anyway, this is my long and roundabout way of saying that I'll be gone for the next few days. Don't know how often I'll be able to post from the road, especially because I have another round of EOB edits that must get done. But I didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you, and I'll be full of details and photos when I get back!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The latest...
Going a little crazy this time of year, as you can probably tell by thelack of an updated blog. We did move into our new house, but immediatelyfollowing that day (like, three days later) we had our annual holiday party for friends and family. Yes, we are gluttons for punishment. Right now, we are in the midst of buying, wrapping, and sending gifts, preparing to send Christmas cards, making Christmas cookies (my one culinary contribution toour household) and also having our house (the inside) painted. I didn't even plug my computer into the wall--my writing computer, that is--until this morning. I've been making do with the laptop for email and myAlphaSmart for writing...and not much of the latter has been accomplished in the last week and half, I can assure you.
I'm sort of halfway into my new office. I still have boxes everywhere. Most of them sit shunned in the hallway, so I can try to accomplish something. I am excited, though, because this office gets lots and lots of natural light. I just feel so much better and feel like I'm more productive whenthe sun is shining. Though in Illinois in mid-December, that's rare enough as to be unattainable.
There's a boatload of promotional opportunities I need to be following up on and the lack of time is KILLING me. I actually signed up for a free trial offer of Constant Contact (an email program) and I suspect it's going to expire before I ever even get a chance to try it. I'm also due to turn in an interview, information about my covers, and buy some banner ads. I'm also starting some promotion for Bitter Pill and need to make some headwaythere, but I have to find time!!!! This month, you'll find an ad for The Silver Spoon in RT Magazine and a really cool joint ad with Linnea Sinclair in SciFi Magazine (I will try to post a copy here). I'm SO excited. Also, EOB should be up for preorder on Amazon in the next week or so, and I'm due to post a new excerpt from it here on the site. Overdue, actually. Arrrgh.
It's also that time of year when I start to think about my plan for next year. I must admit that my plans usually do not go according to, well, plan. I never know what's going to sell, what I can finish and reasonably polish during the course of the year and what opportunities might fall in my lap.
According to last year's blog, these were my 2007 goals:
So that means for writing projects in 2007, I’ll be:
-finishing edits on the second Zara book (I’m working on those now, and I’m nearly done. Hope to be finished by the middle of January at the latest—yea!).
-editing/revising the second Rennie book.
-writing the third Zara book.
-working on something new!
Well, the second Zara book is done and sold to Echelon, so that's a good thing. Third book, honestly, has not even been started yet because I need a little distance from the second book to see where I'm going next. However, I realized, in discussion with Linnea, that a major character is not going to survive our next outing. That sucks, but the weird thing is, that more than anything else has motivated me to start thinking about how this third (and possibly, final) book is going to come together.
I also sold The Silver Spoon to Echelon this year. Need to cut myself some slack because prior to April or so, I didn't have a publisher for that book, which meant the series was going nowhere, at least temporarily.
Didn't even touch the second Rennie book. However, I did finally drop the vampire mystery that I started, struggled with and ultimately hated. I'm NOT a vampire writer. Very clearly. Lesson learned. *full body shudder* I also wrote a proposal and the first 40 pages for a new book for the Dorchester Shomi line. It didn't go anywhere (at least, not yet), but I'm pleased with the idea and the pages that came from it and I'm definitely going to pursue finishing it. I'm also proud of myself for making time to write those pages instead of sticking so rigidly to my plan as I probably would have in the past. First, because I LOVE what came from it, and second, it was just a really cool opportunity. This was the year of NOW. No Opportunities Wasted, and I like to think I did much better on that than I would have in other years. I think I'm going to make that my permanent motto, actually!
I'm in the midst of working on a shorter SF romance story, probably novella length, though I'm not sure. It leans a little more toward the space opera side, and I'm enjoying the change of pace, both the shorter length and the different twist on things. My goal was to finish the first draft by the end of the year, but I'm going to have to really work hard on letting go and writing a sh*tty first draft if that's going to happen. I'm hanging on just a bit too tight. I know it, and yet, haven't had time to force myself toget over it.
Now, for 2008 goals...I feel like I need a spreadsheet or Microsoft Project or something to try to be more productive and measure out my year in what Iwant to accomplish rather than just making a list and trying to guess at timeframes. I am blessed to be able to work on whatever I feel like instead of obeying set deadlines, which is fortunate, but that also means I can vacillate for days. : ) Anyone have a suggestion on how they make goals and schedule them for completion?
I'm sort of halfway into my new office. I still have boxes everywhere. Most of them sit shunned in the hallway, so I can try to accomplish something. I am excited, though, because this office gets lots and lots of natural light. I just feel so much better and feel like I'm more productive whenthe sun is shining. Though in Illinois in mid-December, that's rare enough as to be unattainable.
There's a boatload of promotional opportunities I need to be following up on and the lack of time is KILLING me. I actually signed up for a free trial offer of Constant Contact (an email program) and I suspect it's going to expire before I ever even get a chance to try it. I'm also due to turn in an interview, information about my covers, and buy some banner ads. I'm also starting some promotion for Bitter Pill and need to make some headwaythere, but I have to find time!!!! This month, you'll find an ad for The Silver Spoon in RT Magazine and a really cool joint ad with Linnea Sinclair in SciFi Magazine (I will try to post a copy here). I'm SO excited. Also, EOB should be up for preorder on Amazon in the next week or so, and I'm due to post a new excerpt from it here on the site. Overdue, actually. Arrrgh.
It's also that time of year when I start to think about my plan for next year. I must admit that my plans usually do not go according to, well, plan. I never know what's going to sell, what I can finish and reasonably polish during the course of the year and what opportunities might fall in my lap.
According to last year's blog, these were my 2007 goals:
So that means for writing projects in 2007, I’ll be:
-finishing edits on the second Zara book (I’m working on those now, and I’m nearly done. Hope to be finished by the middle of January at the latest—yea!).
-editing/revising the second Rennie book.
-writing the third Zara book.
-working on something new!
Well, the second Zara book is done and sold to Echelon, so that's a good thing. Third book, honestly, has not even been started yet because I need a little distance from the second book to see where I'm going next. However, I realized, in discussion with Linnea, that a major character is not going to survive our next outing. That sucks, but the weird thing is, that more than anything else has motivated me to start thinking about how this third (and possibly, final) book is going to come together.
I also sold The Silver Spoon to Echelon this year. Need to cut myself some slack because prior to April or so, I didn't have a publisher for that book, which meant the series was going nowhere, at least temporarily.
Didn't even touch the second Rennie book. However, I did finally drop the vampire mystery that I started, struggled with and ultimately hated. I'm NOT a vampire writer. Very clearly. Lesson learned. *full body shudder* I also wrote a proposal and the first 40 pages for a new book for the Dorchester Shomi line. It didn't go anywhere (at least, not yet), but I'm pleased with the idea and the pages that came from it and I'm definitely going to pursue finishing it. I'm also proud of myself for making time to write those pages instead of sticking so rigidly to my plan as I probably would have in the past. First, because I LOVE what came from it, and second, it was just a really cool opportunity. This was the year of NOW. No Opportunities Wasted, and I like to think I did much better on that than I would have in other years. I think I'm going to make that my permanent motto, actually!
I'm in the midst of working on a shorter SF romance story, probably novella length, though I'm not sure. It leans a little more toward the space opera side, and I'm enjoying the change of pace, both the shorter length and the different twist on things. My goal was to finish the first draft by the end of the year, but I'm going to have to really work hard on letting go and writing a sh*tty first draft if that's going to happen. I'm hanging on just a bit too tight. I know it, and yet, haven't had time to force myself toget over it.
Now, for 2008 goals...I feel like I need a spreadsheet or Microsoft Project or something to try to be more productive and measure out my year in what Iwant to accomplish rather than just making a list and trying to guess at timeframes. I am blessed to be able to work on whatever I feel like instead of obeying set deadlines, which is fortunate, but that also means I can vacillate for days. : ) Anyone have a suggestion on how they make goals and schedule them for completion?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Oops.
I completely forgot to mention here that I've posted the entire first chapter of Eye of the Beholder. Prior to this point, I'd only posted the first few pages, which were also used as an excerpt in the back of the new version of The Silver Spoon.
Here's the link:
http://www.staceyklemstein.com/EOBExcerpt.html
I'm thinking it's about eight or more "new" pages. Chapter Two will be posted in December and Chapter Three in January! : )
Other random stuff...
--I'm suffering from major gadget lust, again. I've only just recovered from desperately needing an iPhone, which I still want, and now Amazon has launched the Kindle. I'm not completely convinced it's the best ebook reader or anything, but I LOVE that you can instantly download new books from anywhere. No service plan or monthly fees. Plus, you get to skip the step of downloading to your computer and then your ebook reader. I just WANT it. But I do not have the $399 (!!!) required. Oh, well, the gadget lust will fade (eventually) and maybe the price will drop (a la the iPhone). For that price, I'm not certain it's worth it when I'm not sure I can give up the physical presence of a book. I am one of those (my dad is another I know of) who loves the smell and texture of books, the paper, the ink, the cover. All of it. Guess we'll see...
--Is it just a little bit disturbing that at least one person (possibly more) found my website by searching for the phrase "Nancy Drew bound and gagged" on Google? I have a similar phrase in my mystery bio, where I'm sort of poking fun at the series because Nancy never did seem to learn that going anywhere alone was the surest way to end up in trouble. But in this context, it's just a little...weird. : )
--Took two days off over Thanksgiving and the day after to visit with my family in Peoria. We celebrated my grandmother's eightieth birthday, which is actually tomorrow. Had amazing food, played games and just relaxed. I felt a little guilty about not writing those two days, even though what I was mostly doing was floundering, flopping around on the page like a fish out of water. But I thought about the point at which I was having trouble in the story a lot, working it through from every possible angle. For me, a huge portion of writing takes place in my head, working and reworking, long before I sit at the keyboard. And lo and behold, when I got back yesterday and sat down, the pieces all fell together. I'm sure I'll be back to floundering again soon, but it's nice to feel like I made that little bit of progress. : )
--I'm thinking about adding a page to my site, creating a list of all the stuff I'm reading (and therefore recommending). It would be good to keep track, so I can remember all the authors I want follow. Of course, I could do this just in a word doc for myself for that purpose. But I'm wondering if anyone else would be interested in it? I always like to find out what other people are reading, and except on MySpace (where there's a place to put what you're reading), I always forget to mention it here. Just let me know... : )
Here's the link:
http://www.staceyklemstein.com/EOBExcerpt.html
I'm thinking it's about eight or more "new" pages. Chapter Two will be posted in December and Chapter Three in January! : )
Other random stuff...
--I'm suffering from major gadget lust, again. I've only just recovered from desperately needing an iPhone, which I still want, and now Amazon has launched the Kindle. I'm not completely convinced it's the best ebook reader or anything, but I LOVE that you can instantly download new books from anywhere. No service plan or monthly fees. Plus, you get to skip the step of downloading to your computer and then your ebook reader. I just WANT it. But I do not have the $399 (!!!) required. Oh, well, the gadget lust will fade (eventually) and maybe the price will drop (a la the iPhone). For that price, I'm not certain it's worth it when I'm not sure I can give up the physical presence of a book. I am one of those (my dad is another I know of) who loves the smell and texture of books, the paper, the ink, the cover. All of it. Guess we'll see...
--Is it just a little bit disturbing that at least one person (possibly more) found my website by searching for the phrase "Nancy Drew bound and gagged" on Google? I have a similar phrase in my mystery bio, where I'm sort of poking fun at the series because Nancy never did seem to learn that going anywhere alone was the surest way to end up in trouble. But in this context, it's just a little...weird. : )
--Took two days off over Thanksgiving and the day after to visit with my family in Peoria. We celebrated my grandmother's eightieth birthday, which is actually tomorrow. Had amazing food, played games and just relaxed. I felt a little guilty about not writing those two days, even though what I was mostly doing was floundering, flopping around on the page like a fish out of water. But I thought about the point at which I was having trouble in the story a lot, working it through from every possible angle. For me, a huge portion of writing takes place in my head, working and reworking, long before I sit at the keyboard. And lo and behold, when I got back yesterday and sat down, the pieces all fell together. I'm sure I'll be back to floundering again soon, but it's nice to feel like I made that little bit of progress. : )
--I'm thinking about adding a page to my site, creating a list of all the stuff I'm reading (and therefore recommending). It would be good to keep track, so I can remember all the authors I want follow. Of course, I could do this just in a word doc for myself for that purpose. But I'm wondering if anyone else would be interested in it? I always like to find out what other people are reading, and except on MySpace (where there's a place to put what you're reading), I always forget to mention it here. Just let me know... : )
Friday, November 16, 2007
Blahbbedy, blah.
I'm suffering writer frustration. Arrggh. I hate this. I want to write. I want to write so much, and yet when I sit down to do so all that comes out is complete and utter crap. I know that it's probably not as bad as it seems. Proof of this is finding old writing and realizing that it's not the gag-fest that I thought it was when I first wrote it. Plus, this is part of the whole "write a sh*tty first draft," a theory I fervently ascribe to. But I can't seem to make myself keep going today for some reason.
Some of this is because I KNOW what happens, but I don't know whose perspective it should be from. I typically don't encounter this problem because I usually write first person, single narrator. But in this case, I'm not and....arrgggh. I guess the worst thing that could happen is that I have to go back and rewrite it from the other perspective. Or maybe I could rough out the scene from both perspectives and see which one feels more right. *pitiful sigh*
Anyway, aside from my whining, here are some things that may or may not entertain you.
First, I've been following along pretty closely with the Writers' Guild strike in California and New York. I didn't quite understand what all the fuss was about, at first. Residuals, which is what you often hear about, are like royalties. They don't get residuals for anything that's downloaded off the internet because the networks, get this, are saying that the internet use is purely promotional. Ha, right. How many of you download shows? I do. And I have to sit through the annoying commercials, too, so somebody somewhere is getting paid on these. Now, they may not be making very much money, but x percent of not very much is still x percent. That's what they're out there fighting for.
Yet I've read many comments in various places bitching about how rich television writers shouldn't be asking for more money. I'll grant you that there are some writers who probably are rich and make a very tidy profit. But I'll bet you there are lots of others who are just barely making it, trying to find a way to keep doing what they love and still pay the bills. I know this because this is how it is for novelists. It's freaking hard to make enough money in this industry. It just is, even for the big press authors. But we do it because we love it, and we fight to make enough to keep doing it. Anyway, check out John August's blog for a first-hand description of the strike and an insightful explanation of the reasons behind it. : )
If I were L.A., I'd be out there handing out doughnuts!
Okay, on to second very important topic. My friend Judy is an awesome photographer. She took a bunch of headshots for me so I'd have something to include in the back cover of my next book, if I wanted to. Here are a couple. I shall call them Photo A and Photo B. What think you, dear reader? You will note that there is no big smile because when I smile like that my eyes squinch up and disappear. So I have to go the more coy and mysterious route...it may, however, look more like I'm squinting at something in the distance, so we'll see!
Photo A
Some of this is because I KNOW what happens, but I don't know whose perspective it should be from. I typically don't encounter this problem because I usually write first person, single narrator. But in this case, I'm not and....arrgggh. I guess the worst thing that could happen is that I have to go back and rewrite it from the other perspective. Or maybe I could rough out the scene from both perspectives and see which one feels more right. *pitiful sigh*
Anyway, aside from my whining, here are some things that may or may not entertain you.
First, I've been following along pretty closely with the Writers' Guild strike in California and New York. I didn't quite understand what all the fuss was about, at first. Residuals, which is what you often hear about, are like royalties. They don't get residuals for anything that's downloaded off the internet because the networks, get this, are saying that the internet use is purely promotional. Ha, right. How many of you download shows? I do. And I have to sit through the annoying commercials, too, so somebody somewhere is getting paid on these. Now, they may not be making very much money, but x percent of not very much is still x percent. That's what they're out there fighting for.
Yet I've read many comments in various places bitching about how rich television writers shouldn't be asking for more money. I'll grant you that there are some writers who probably are rich and make a very tidy profit. But I'll bet you there are lots of others who are just barely making it, trying to find a way to keep doing what they love and still pay the bills. I know this because this is how it is for novelists. It's freaking hard to make enough money in this industry. It just is, even for the big press authors. But we do it because we love it, and we fight to make enough to keep doing it. Anyway, check out John August's blog for a first-hand description of the strike and an insightful explanation of the reasons behind it. : )
If I were L.A., I'd be out there handing out doughnuts!
Okay, on to second very important topic. My friend Judy is an awesome photographer. She took a bunch of headshots for me so I'd have something to include in the back cover of my next book, if I wanted to. Here are a couple. I shall call them Photo A and Photo B. What think you, dear reader? You will note that there is no big smile because when I smile like that my eyes squinch up and disappear. So I have to go the more coy and mysterious route...it may, however, look more like I'm squinting at something in the distance, so we'll see!
Photo A
Photo B:
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Sex and Marriage with Robots by 2050?
Okay, so am I wrong that I find this article (and idea) completely fascinating? The author has all kinds of parallels to how our society has changed in the past to accept relationships that were previously socially unacceptable, and he thinks robots are next.
I don't know. Can you truly love someone who's programmed to love you? Would it be easier or harder than the real thing? I think the love and marriage portion of it, quite frankly, would be more difficult than the sex aspect. Although, again, if you tell your significant other, robotic or otherwise, to please take out the trash, who is more likely to get the chore done? But then again, is a surprise dinner out really a surprise if you have to tell the robot you like surprises and this is your favorite restaurant? Then again, perhaps the technology will have advanced so that the robot learns about you over the years, just as a person would? But will that robot change and develop also? Would he/she have a favorite food, color, piece of music?
And if they become that developed, in terms of humanity, isn't there something wrong with buying or selling them for the purposes of marriage and sex without their consent or agreement? And can you rely on consent from one who has been programmed to serve?
I just think it's fascinating. : )
I don't know. Can you truly love someone who's programmed to love you? Would it be easier or harder than the real thing? I think the love and marriage portion of it, quite frankly, would be more difficult than the sex aspect. Although, again, if you tell your significant other, robotic or otherwise, to please take out the trash, who is more likely to get the chore done? But then again, is a surprise dinner out really a surprise if you have to tell the robot you like surprises and this is your favorite restaurant? Then again, perhaps the technology will have advanced so that the robot learns about you over the years, just as a person would? But will that robot change and develop also? Would he/she have a favorite food, color, piece of music?
And if they become that developed, in terms of humanity, isn't there something wrong with buying or selling them for the purposes of marriage and sex without their consent or agreement? And can you rely on consent from one who has been programmed to serve?
I just think it's fascinating. : )
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Woo Hoo!!!
Eye of the Beholder, the second book in the Zara Mitchell series, is officially with the publisher as of about 10:00 pm tonight!!!! Celebrate with me! : )
Hope to have a cover to share soon as well as more excerpts!
Hope to have a cover to share soon as well as more excerpts!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Writing by the seat of your pants sometimes leaves you naked! : )
I've been working on my handout for the plot workshop Linnea and I are giving together next week at Archon, and it's fascinating to me how differently we approach writing. Of course, in writing up how I usually work, I can see why I routinely get stuck at various points in a book.
I rely on intuition to write. I don't plot or plan anything out ahead of time...well, not much, anyway. I just listen and watch, much the way Stephen King describes in On Writing. I don't do it that way because that's how he does it but because that's the way it works for me. It's like catching only bits and pieces of a movie and trying to puzzle out what must have happened in between this part and the last little portion you saw.
It works for me because I enjoy finding out what's going on just like a reader. However, I frequently find myself in situations where I don't know what happens to make that next leap. Over the years, I've learned it's usually because I'm missing something. Some major fact I didn't know, some tension-elevating feature that I bypassed accidentally. For example, in The Silver Spoon, it was that if you challenge the leader of this particular group of aliens and you win...you're the new leader. Boom. When that clicked into place, it was HUGE. Changed everything and pulled the story tight again.
And for whatever reason, I find this stumbling block always occurs right near a threshold, or change in the character/situation. I follow Christopher Vogler's idea of the Writer's Journey when I need help and I always find myself referring to that book at the exact same places in every single book--as I'm transitioning into Act II and then again into Act III.
With my current WIP, that's exactly where I'm floundering again. I know some things, but just not the full picture. And it's very frustrating when I want to move forward. I know the hero in my story has some big dangerous mission in the offing or he has some special destiny or both, but I have no idea what it is. Not yet. And though technically I don't need to know at this exact moment--nobody's talking about it or anything--his role/mission is significant in how it causes at least one major character (and possibly more) behaves toward my heroine. Arrgh.
It will work out--I have faith and it always does. But whew, talk about grumpiness and frustration until we get there.
Anyone else out there write this way? If so, what do you do to get past it? I know L would tell me that I've fallen off the conflict line and she's absolutely right. But how to get back on and get us on the right track again...that's the tricky part.
I rely on intuition to write. I don't plot or plan anything out ahead of time...well, not much, anyway. I just listen and watch, much the way Stephen King describes in On Writing. I don't do it that way because that's how he does it but because that's the way it works for me. It's like catching only bits and pieces of a movie and trying to puzzle out what must have happened in between this part and the last little portion you saw.
It works for me because I enjoy finding out what's going on just like a reader. However, I frequently find myself in situations where I don't know what happens to make that next leap. Over the years, I've learned it's usually because I'm missing something. Some major fact I didn't know, some tension-elevating feature that I bypassed accidentally. For example, in The Silver Spoon, it was that if you challenge the leader of this particular group of aliens and you win...you're the new leader. Boom. When that clicked into place, it was HUGE. Changed everything and pulled the story tight again.
And for whatever reason, I find this stumbling block always occurs right near a threshold, or change in the character/situation. I follow Christopher Vogler's idea of the Writer's Journey when I need help and I always find myself referring to that book at the exact same places in every single book--as I'm transitioning into Act II and then again into Act III.
With my current WIP, that's exactly where I'm floundering again. I know some things, but just not the full picture. And it's very frustrating when I want to move forward. I know the hero in my story has some big dangerous mission in the offing or he has some special destiny or both, but I have no idea what it is. Not yet. And though technically I don't need to know at this exact moment--nobody's talking about it or anything--his role/mission is significant in how it causes at least one major character (and possibly more) behaves toward my heroine. Arrgh.
It will work out--I have faith and it always does. But whew, talk about grumpiness and frustration until we get there.
Anyone else out there write this way? If so, what do you do to get past it? I know L would tell me that I've fallen off the conflict line and she's absolutely right. But how to get back on and get us on the right track again...that's the tricky part.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Finished 30 pages!
Last weekend, things came together on the proposal I've been working on. Once I got out of my own way (worrying about whether it was any good and if it would work), I finished three chapters. Then I finished the fourth one this weekend, which gives me about thirty pages, enough to be considered a proposal. Of course, I still have to write the synopsis, which for me is the hardest part.
The thing I'm struggling with the most on this one is that I'm really enjoying myself, letting my hair done and writing a shitty first draft (as Anne Lamott suggests). But I'm scared to pull everything together and send it in for official consideration because if it doesn't work for this particular opportunity (the reason I pushed this idea to the front of the development line, so to speak), I'm afraid I'll lose my passion and interest in it. I'll be too down on myself and the particular idea to keep going. I don't know...does that make sense?
That's why I prefer to finish the whole thing--or at least more than the first few chapters--before letting it go. When I've got the full book, I know that it's come together and I feel good about it, confident. If it doesn't meet specific needs, that's okay, but I've learned that doesn't necessarily speak to the quality of the story or writing.
But this...only a few chapters to stand for the whole thing. Eeeek. It just makes me a nervous wreck. Mainly because I'm acting on faith that it will all come together, just as it has in the past for other books. And yet, most books (other than the first few by an author) are sold on proposal versus the whole book being written (that's called writing on spec). So it's something I probably need to get used to.
Writing is, more than anything, an act of faith for me. And every time I think I've got it mastered--faith to write the next scene even if I don't know exactly what happens, faith to know that there's an ending for it even if I don't know it yet, faith to send it out, faith that I'm doing what I'm meant to do--there's another leap waiting for me. : )
So, okay, this is just the next leap. Time to close my eyes, take a deep breath and make the jump.
The thing I'm struggling with the most on this one is that I'm really enjoying myself, letting my hair done and writing a shitty first draft (as Anne Lamott suggests). But I'm scared to pull everything together and send it in for official consideration because if it doesn't work for this particular opportunity (the reason I pushed this idea to the front of the development line, so to speak), I'm afraid I'll lose my passion and interest in it. I'll be too down on myself and the particular idea to keep going. I don't know...does that make sense?
That's why I prefer to finish the whole thing--or at least more than the first few chapters--before letting it go. When I've got the full book, I know that it's come together and I feel good about it, confident. If it doesn't meet specific needs, that's okay, but I've learned that doesn't necessarily speak to the quality of the story or writing.
But this...only a few chapters to stand for the whole thing. Eeeek. It just makes me a nervous wreck. Mainly because I'm acting on faith that it will all come together, just as it has in the past for other books. And yet, most books (other than the first few by an author) are sold on proposal versus the whole book being written (that's called writing on spec). So it's something I probably need to get used to.
Writing is, more than anything, an act of faith for me. And every time I think I've got it mastered--faith to write the next scene even if I don't know exactly what happens, faith to know that there's an ending for it even if I don't know it yet, faith to send it out, faith that I'm doing what I'm meant to do--there's another leap waiting for me. : )
So, okay, this is just the next leap. Time to close my eyes, take a deep breath and make the jump.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Guest blogging this week
Hey guys, just a quick note to let you know I guest-blogged this week at Alien Romances. I wrote about creating new words in world-building. "Shiny" from Firefly was my example of this concept done well.
Check it out here!
Check it out here!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Where to Begin?
Working on my current WIP, and this is a weird one for me. Normally, I have a very clear idea of what the beginning and end should be. Now, that doesn't mean that they both turn out that way. But I can see an initial version. With this one, I can see more of the middle and the beginning...is not clear. I've got several scenes, each one would start the book one scene earlier.
They aren't competing ideas in the sense that it would be one or the other, but that very first scene, the one that kicks everything off can start either pretty close to the main "everything changes" event or a little farther back.
The advantage of the farther back approach is the chance to give more context so readers understand why certain events are significant without me having to spell it out. That's a good thing to avoid--the info dump or the telling versus showing.
But starting closer to the "everything changes" scene means you don't have to wait so long for something to happen.
With The Silver Spoon, I start with the diner explosion pretty much right off. It works in that case because an explosion is pretty self-explanatory. But the opening situation I'm working with here--someone waking up from cyrogenic freezing is a little more complicated. Also, it's a future setting slightly, which requires some context.
If I follow the Writer's Journey, I need the ordinary world first, which means I'd have to back up even farther, and I've got part of that scene written too. But does that go too far back? I don't know...
Just need to think more, I think.
They aren't competing ideas in the sense that it would be one or the other, but that very first scene, the one that kicks everything off can start either pretty close to the main "everything changes" event or a little farther back.
The advantage of the farther back approach is the chance to give more context so readers understand why certain events are significant without me having to spell it out. That's a good thing to avoid--the info dump or the telling versus showing.
But starting closer to the "everything changes" scene means you don't have to wait so long for something to happen.
With The Silver Spoon, I start with the diner explosion pretty much right off. It works in that case because an explosion is pretty self-explanatory. But the opening situation I'm working with here--someone waking up from cyrogenic freezing is a little more complicated. Also, it's a future setting slightly, which requires some context.
If I follow the Writer's Journey, I need the ordinary world first, which means I'd have to back up even farther, and I've got part of that scene written too. But does that go too far back? I don't know...
Just need to think more, I think.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
New contract! And a general update...
When I got back home from Hawaii, I found an envelope from Echelon--a contract for the second Zara book, Eye of the Beholder! Also, the re-release of The Silver Spoon will have an excerpt from the second book at the back. : )
I've been a little behind in updating the blog. We got back from Maui last Friday and then turned around on Saturday to drive down to Peoria for my sister's high school graduation. Unfortunately, when I woke up on Sunday, I had the stomach flu. I haven't had that in years. Greg was sick with it earlier this year, just before RT. I was worried I'd get sick before leaving, but I was okay then. But it was just lying in wait.
Actually, I'm pretty sure a woman on the flight back between Maui and Los Angeles last week was sick. She kept getting up to go to the bathroom and taking blankets off all the empty seats until she had, like, eight of them. Clearly, she had a fever or something, just as I did. Damn that airplane recycled air! : )
So, I missed Susan's graduation, and I feel so bad about that. I know she's been eagerly looking forward to this event, and I so wanted to see her graduate. I've been there for most, if not all, the major events in her life, and I'm bummed that I missed this one.
I started feeling better slowly on Sunday night and we spent another night at my parents' house before leaving early Monday morning.
Other Stuff:
Before leaving for Hawaii, I sent out a proposal for a new project and I'm waiting to hear back on that. This weekend, I'm working on a different proposal and having a blast with it too.
Unfortunately, I spent most of yesterday at the doctor's office and then the hospital. My right shoulder and arm have been bothering me since we got back from the trip. They were getting better, but I decided to make an appointment, just to make sure everything was okay. I've always been able to pop my shoulder out of place at will, so I figured hauling things around (including my freaking laptop, which, hello!?!, it was vacation and should have been left at home) probably just stretched or pulled something.
Well, when the doctor was having me rotate it around, he kept hearing it click. Which is not good. So he sent me to the hospital for x-rays. And by the time, I was done with all that, my whole arm was throbbing and aching from being pulled and prodded. The part that weirds me out is that my shoulder on that side feels out of place or something, like it's lower or something, but the x-rays will show it if something's out of whack. At least, I hope so.
But because it's the long weekend, I have to wait until early next week to hear the results. Ugh.
I also picked up a new ergonomic keyboard (with money I don't have!) because my wrist has been bothering me. That seems to help.
As my friend Stacy G. says, I'm now banned from vacation. Clearly, my body can't handle that much relaxation. : )
P.S. Also, Nathan Fillion accepted my friend request--hee! Yep, I know he's got thousands of friends on MySpace, but I don't care. It's still cool.
I've been a little behind in updating the blog. We got back from Maui last Friday and then turned around on Saturday to drive down to Peoria for my sister's high school graduation. Unfortunately, when I woke up on Sunday, I had the stomach flu. I haven't had that in years. Greg was sick with it earlier this year, just before RT. I was worried I'd get sick before leaving, but I was okay then. But it was just lying in wait.
Actually, I'm pretty sure a woman on the flight back between Maui and Los Angeles last week was sick. She kept getting up to go to the bathroom and taking blankets off all the empty seats until she had, like, eight of them. Clearly, she had a fever or something, just as I did. Damn that airplane recycled air! : )
So, I missed Susan's graduation, and I feel so bad about that. I know she's been eagerly looking forward to this event, and I so wanted to see her graduate. I've been there for most, if not all, the major events in her life, and I'm bummed that I missed this one.
I started feeling better slowly on Sunday night and we spent another night at my parents' house before leaving early Monday morning.
Other Stuff:
Before leaving for Hawaii, I sent out a proposal for a new project and I'm waiting to hear back on that. This weekend, I'm working on a different proposal and having a blast with it too.
Unfortunately, I spent most of yesterday at the doctor's office and then the hospital. My right shoulder and arm have been bothering me since we got back from the trip. They were getting better, but I decided to make an appointment, just to make sure everything was okay. I've always been able to pop my shoulder out of place at will, so I figured hauling things around (including my freaking laptop, which, hello!?!, it was vacation and should have been left at home) probably just stretched or pulled something.
Well, when the doctor was having me rotate it around, he kept hearing it click. Which is not good. So he sent me to the hospital for x-rays. And by the time, I was done with all that, my whole arm was throbbing and aching from being pulled and prodded. The part that weirds me out is that my shoulder on that side feels out of place or something, like it's lower or something, but the x-rays will show it if something's out of whack. At least, I hope so.
But because it's the long weekend, I have to wait until early next week to hear the results. Ugh.
I also picked up a new ergonomic keyboard (with money I don't have!) because my wrist has been bothering me. That seems to help.
As my friend Stacy G. says, I'm now banned from vacation. Clearly, my body can't handle that much relaxation. : )
P.S. Also, Nathan Fillion accepted my friend request--hee! Yep, I know he's got thousands of friends on MySpace, but I don't care. It's still cool.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Head spinning
I know, I still owe an update on RT (the best one that I've been to yet), but I'm scrambling here, trying to pull a bunch of things together. I promise I'll be writing a full entry soon. Right now, though, I've just got to keep my head down and keep working. : )
Saturday, April 28, 2007
RT Update
Greetings from Houston! I'm having a great time, and can't wait to tell you guys all about it when I get back. As you can see, it's really late and I have to be up super early, but I just wanted to say I am having a total blast. : )
I always forget how much fun I have being with other writers and readers. It's such a relief to talk to other writers and find out I'm not the only neurotic and weird one. Some of us make our living being neurotic and weird!
More later...
I always forget how much fun I have being with other writers and readers. It's such a relief to talk to other writers and find out I'm not the only neurotic and weird one. Some of us make our living being neurotic and weird!
More later...
Monday, February 05, 2007
Love is Murder
I attended Love Is Murder this weekend, a mystery and romantic suspense writers and readers conference in Chicago.
Some of the highlights included a seminar presented by a graphoanalyst (one who analyzes handwriting), a demonstration and explanation of a polygraph machine and how a polygraph examiner does her job, and meeting my new publisher!
It was so cool, you guys! Echelon Press sponsored the lunch on Saturday, which was for like 200 people, and my publisher, Karen, got up and introduced the EP authors who were there, including me. So exciting!
I also got to meet Nancy Pickard, a mystery author whose books I've loved for years. I started reading her Jenny Cain series back in high school or even before. She was a marvelous speaker and very laid-back. Charlaine Harris was also there and she's always a hoot!
I also got to see Nancy and Luisa Buehler (another awesome mystery author who is with Echelon) and a bunch of other authors doing the Super Bowl Shuffle, of all things, after dinner on Saturday. This was, of course, before the Bears didn't quite make it on Sunday.
As always, the best part of going to these conferences is just getting to hang out with other writers. I always learn something new, and it just feels good to talk with other people who go through all the ups and downs of writing too.
Some of the highlights included a seminar presented by a graphoanalyst (one who analyzes handwriting), a demonstration and explanation of a polygraph machine and how a polygraph examiner does her job, and meeting my new publisher!
It was so cool, you guys! Echelon Press sponsored the lunch on Saturday, which was for like 200 people, and my publisher, Karen, got up and introduced the EP authors who were there, including me. So exciting!
I also got to meet Nancy Pickard, a mystery author whose books I've loved for years. I started reading her Jenny Cain series back in high school or even before. She was a marvelous speaker and very laid-back. Charlaine Harris was also there and she's always a hoot!
I also got to see Nancy and Luisa Buehler (another awesome mystery author who is with Echelon) and a bunch of other authors doing the Super Bowl Shuffle, of all things, after dinner on Saturday. This was, of course, before the Bears didn't quite make it on Sunday.
As always, the best part of going to these conferences is just getting to hang out with other writers. I always learn something new, and it just feels good to talk with other people who go through all the ups and downs of writing too.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
My brain is a hamster on a wheel…on crack. The hamster, I mean, not the wheel.
I wrote this entry the other night, but my computer ate it. So, take two…(take two what, Stacey? Ha! *snort* I crack myself up. I’m clearly very tired here and operating on about half a brain…)
Now that I’ve found a home for BITTER PILL—yea!—I’m being a good author and looking ahead to the next Rennie story. One of my big mistakes with THE SILVER SPOON was waiting until it was released to worry about finishing the second book. And now with RuneStone closing, I’m kind of stuck because I’ve got to find a new publisher for THE SILVER SPOON before I can get the sequel out there. That means readers will have waited more than two years between each book. Auuughhh! Not good. Not going to happen again. I’m soooo learning from that mistake.
So, for Rennie, I have a draft of the next one, but it’s very rough. I’m worried that it might share too much in common thematically with BP. But it’s not pulled together enough for me to give the whole thing over to my trusted and patient first readers to see what they think. And my dilemma is that I don’t want to spend time fixing this one if it’s too similar because that’s time I should be spending writing a new one instead. So, I’ve asked a couple of my first readers to read the first two chapters and see what they think. And so far, so good. My thanks to Becky D., Stacy G., and Susan for their help.
All of this has started me thinking about my writing plans for 2007. I’m still hoping to get THE SILVER SPOON re-released in 2007, followed shortly by the new sequel to that book. And because I hate how big the gap is between first and second book in that series, I need to start writing the third (and final?) book, in hopes of getting it out there in 2008.
So that means for writing projects in 2007, I’ll be:
-finishing edits on the second Zara book (I’m working on those now, and I’m nearly done. Hope to be finished by the middle of January at the latest—yea!).
-editing/revising the second Rennie book.
-writing the third Zara book.
-working on something new!
I’m tired just thinking about all of it, but I love it. : ) I can’t wait to see what 2007 brings!
Now that I’ve found a home for BITTER PILL—yea!—I’m being a good author and looking ahead to the next Rennie story. One of my big mistakes with THE SILVER SPOON was waiting until it was released to worry about finishing the second book. And now with RuneStone closing, I’m kind of stuck because I’ve got to find a new publisher for THE SILVER SPOON before I can get the sequel out there. That means readers will have waited more than two years between each book. Auuughhh! Not good. Not going to happen again. I’m soooo learning from that mistake.
So, for Rennie, I have a draft of the next one, but it’s very rough. I’m worried that it might share too much in common thematically with BP. But it’s not pulled together enough for me to give the whole thing over to my trusted and patient first readers to see what they think. And my dilemma is that I don’t want to spend time fixing this one if it’s too similar because that’s time I should be spending writing a new one instead. So, I’ve asked a couple of my first readers to read the first two chapters and see what they think. And so far, so good. My thanks to Becky D., Stacy G., and Susan for their help.
All of this has started me thinking about my writing plans for 2007. I’m still hoping to get THE SILVER SPOON re-released in 2007, followed shortly by the new sequel to that book. And because I hate how big the gap is between first and second book in that series, I need to start writing the third (and final?) book, in hopes of getting it out there in 2008.
So that means for writing projects in 2007, I’ll be:
-finishing edits on the second Zara book (I’m working on those now, and I’m nearly done. Hope to be finished by the middle of January at the latest—yea!).
-editing/revising the second Rennie book.
-writing the third Zara book.
-working on something new!
I’m tired just thinking about all of it, but I love it. : ) I can’t wait to see what 2007 brings!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Is there any sweeter phrase than...BOOK CONTRACT?
I don't think so. : )
Bitter Pill, the first book in the Rennie Harlow series, is going to be published by Echelon Press in 2008! I got the news last weekend, but bronchitis (again, second time in 2006) got the better of me this week. (I haven't been to work since Monday).
I'm so excited! Echelon is exactly where I wanted Bitter Pill to go, and I can't believe it worked out. : ) Another friend and Chicago mystery author, Luisa Buehler, is published with them and was instrumental in helping me make contact. Isabo Kelly also has a holiday short story with them--definitely a good time of year to check that out! And I've heard such great things about Echelon. Make sure you check out their site, particularly the publisher's blog. This sounds kind of hokey, but I just get such a good vibe from them.
Bitter Pill is a book that's close to my heart for a lot of reasons. The first draft of it was probably the easiest of all the books I've written. It just seemed to pour out. During the day, I was working on edits for The Silver Spoon, and I just needed something to help counterbalance the frustration of revisions--I hate revising, though I must admit that it is a very necessary evil. (And I've realized, note to self, that this is how I work best: revising one project and writing something new.)
So I started working on my AlphaSmart at night. I'd get into bed, turn on HGTV in the background, wait til my husband fell asleep and then begin typing away. At one point, I was holding up a booklight with my knees so I could see the AlphaSmart's screen when it was in my lap.
The second draft was more difficult, and it took me a couple of years and many, many conversations with Becky D. and Stacy G. to get it right. Thanks, guys! And thank you to my sister, Susan, who along with Becky D. and Stacy G., told me they like this one even better than The Silver Spoon and encouraged me to keep going with my revisions I hope all of you who enjoyed reading about Zara and Caelan will give this one a try, too.
It's also an important book to me because of the greyhound connection. Rennie, the main character, has adoped a former racing dog, and as most of you know, that's a cause close to my heart. I'm looking forward to spreading the word about what loving, intelligent and sweet animals these are through Rennie's dog, Fritzy.
So, over the next year, look for updates, cover art, excerpts and all that good stuff! : )
Bitter Pill, the first book in the Rennie Harlow series, is going to be published by Echelon Press in 2008! I got the news last weekend, but bronchitis (again, second time in 2006) got the better of me this week. (I haven't been to work since Monday).
I'm so excited! Echelon is exactly where I wanted Bitter Pill to go, and I can't believe it worked out. : ) Another friend and Chicago mystery author, Luisa Buehler, is published with them and was instrumental in helping me make contact. Isabo Kelly also has a holiday short story with them--definitely a good time of year to check that out! And I've heard such great things about Echelon. Make sure you check out their site, particularly the publisher's blog. This sounds kind of hokey, but I just get such a good vibe from them.
Bitter Pill is a book that's close to my heart for a lot of reasons. The first draft of it was probably the easiest of all the books I've written. It just seemed to pour out. During the day, I was working on edits for The Silver Spoon, and I just needed something to help counterbalance the frustration of revisions--I hate revising, though I must admit that it is a very necessary evil. (And I've realized, note to self, that this is how I work best: revising one project and writing something new.)
So I started working on my AlphaSmart at night. I'd get into bed, turn on HGTV in the background, wait til my husband fell asleep and then begin typing away. At one point, I was holding up a booklight with my knees so I could see the AlphaSmart's screen when it was in my lap.
The second draft was more difficult, and it took me a couple of years and many, many conversations with Becky D. and Stacy G. to get it right. Thanks, guys! And thank you to my sister, Susan, who along with Becky D. and Stacy G., told me they like this one even better than The Silver Spoon and encouraged me to keep going with my revisions I hope all of you who enjoyed reading about Zara and Caelan will give this one a try, too.
It's also an important book to me because of the greyhound connection. Rennie, the main character, has adoped a former racing dog, and as most of you know, that's a cause close to my heart. I'm looking forward to spreading the word about what loving, intelligent and sweet animals these are through Rennie's dog, Fritzy.
So, over the next year, look for updates, cover art, excerpts and all that good stuff! : )
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