When they starts talking

I was having an interesting conversation with a friends wife. She asked me how my writing was going and I told her of the progress of all my stories and to which she said it was interesting how I spoke about my characters as if they were real. I said, they are real, to me. The only way to get them out of my head is to write their story and give them a HEA. Yes, I understand that I might sound a bit wierd but I think it's a good thing when your characters take a life of their own and have preferences and talks a certain way. When my characters start talking to me then it's fantastic.

While I'm waiting for my muse to kick in for my sequel to FID I've moved onto a contemporary for the HARMONY line for NCP. The hero, Derrick has just started talking to me and I now know what his favorite band is. Lifehouse. So out I go to buy more CDs. I find it interesting that when my characters develop they have a music preference that is often not what I usually listen to. It helps me get in their head and write how they want to be percieved. It's great.

So, when a character starts talking to you and taking a life of their own, you know the story is going to be great. I'm actually both excited and terrified of this projected. The main reason I'm excited - it because it's going to be a catagory/novella but what terrifies me is that I'm going to touch on a subject that is no doubt going to make me teary-eyed while my characters are being torn apart emotionally. I'm going have to touch that part that I keep closed within myself and bring it to the fore and cry right along with my characters... Why couldn't I choose writing a romantic comedy - I'd much rather laugh along with my characters... I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

My first sting

Well, I found - quite by accident - my first average review of my first MS His Unexpected Bride. And you know what...It wasn't that bad. Although I got 3.5 which makes it a little better than 'Good' by the reviewer, I wasn't upset or anything. I understood that it wasn't my best work and although she sung me some praises, I still accepted it for what the review was: Not terrible, but not great either.

Was I hurt? Nope. Did I care? Depends. I read it with an open mind and in fact expected an average review to come from somewhere. Plus, I'm thankful for the honest review, I can see on the review what failed to capture her and what did work and that is something that I've definately rectified in my other works.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think that book is bad. I just feel that I've grown so much as a writer since then and now can see it for what is was: A very good first time effort. I mean, I got a contract on it so I'm glad for that. I've had readers tell me how much they liked the book and it's a wonderful feeling.

At the end of the day all I'm saying is this: I love a review, no matter what as long as it showcases, what they liked and what they didn't like about the book. I don't like reviews that are just trashing everything without saying what kept them to the end, what redeeming quality the writer had. All in a balance. At the end of the day, a reviewer that is able to find the gems in a book that they didn't really like, is a gem themselves. Because they are really helping out the author in their own way.

New Press

I love to read. And I love to read e-books. Mainly becuase for me - they are easier to get and not as expensive. (For me, I can polish off a 400page book in 2hrs so my love to litrature can be quite expensive) With so many e-pubs out there sometimes I can miss on some real diamonds, but I've also gotten a few duds. Now, don't get me wrong, I think reading is subjective, so what is one's trash is another's treasure.

So, what draws my eye first to an e-book? 2 things: The cover then the title. Second is the blurb and then the third is the excerpt. If all of these catch my interest I go right ahead and purchase. So far, I have my fave epubs but with a new epub opening soon and the covers that are quite snazzy I'm excited about what Cobblestone has to offer. So I've set some money aside, to check them out when they open their doors on June 2.

New work and a spanner

Sorry for being absent for so long. I have some news. I have recently finished a new website for the talented Bebe Thomas. You can check out my latest creation at http://www.bebethomas.com I do hope you guys like it. If you're in the mood for sweet, sexy erotic romance check out her newest book coming out in June.

Also, I've been a bit slow on my current MS. Mainly because I've been taken up with other things like potti-training my baby girl. As yet, I haven't caught her doing it in the toilet. Always just after we get off she does her business *grr* But, I'm hoping to get there eventually.

On another note on my writing. I had planned that the heroine would take a liking to the suave hero on their first meeting. Not happening! Talk about throwing a spanner/wrench (for you americans) in the works. Of course, she does have a right - even if he is the owner of the nightclub she was visiting. But alas, it would mean a bit of rework on my plot to add a few more scene for a smooth transition. No biggie.

On another note. Shelli and I had a chat the other day. Now, novellas. Apparently the hot new thing, and I applaud anyone that can write those ones. I wish I could too *sniffle*. Now I had pitched an idea I had in my head to her and under her enthused response I thought about it. Maybe, just maybe - I'll be able to pull off a novella on this... or at most a category. I could...can't I. *excitements starts* Oh, and this will be a single title. my FIRST idea that didn't demand I write about the secondary characters.... Well, now I can't say that. My brain as stubborn as it is - has decided to expand it to a trilogy. Problem though, is the first one will be dark and emotional whereas the others will be a bit lighter. I can't have that! Well, needless to say. I'm going to take on a side project for fun when my writer's block kicks in.

Mothers day comparison

Well, I thought of a subject. But first let me just say, Happy mothers day to all you mothers out there (and aunts!) My Mothers day was actually better than last year. I got to sleep in, have breakfast in bed and got...wait for it...slippers. LOL Now, last years mothers day. That was a big fat dissapointment. Why? Because my hubby and I had planned to go to a footy game (NRL) and watch the Brisbane Broncos take on the Cantabury Bulldogs. Well, we had a baby sitter (she was at the time a live-in guest) But then she got invited to the same game and promptly agreed to go. We couldn't find another baby-sitter and I had to make the decision to stay home while my hubby, his sister, and x-babysitter went to watch the game. They came back regaling on the best game of the year....for a month. Even now my hubby will mention it and I would say 'Shut up' I was supposed to see that game ON MOTHERS DAY. So that was my mothers day. As you can see, better this year. I got slippers, which at least I don't have to worry about someone taking them off me at the last minute!

A Job not all glitter

I was reading Ciar Cullens blog and was struck by the woeful side of writing. When we start our journey, our dream is to one day make it into print. To get that contract and all will be find and dandy. But as time moves on and your first books is passed up on, then your second and so forth we continue striving for that NY deal. After that we may or may not create a fan base that will keep you there. Writing has got to be the hardest career to choose...and we did choose it.

{my comment on Ciars blog}It is hard I guess to remain tough under a bombardment of rejections. It's hard to remained focused on the prize when others are getting published or a book that is better for firewood than anything else 'made it'. A friend once told me - writing has got to be one of the hardest and lonliest careers. I agree, and ontop of that we get kicked when we're down. AND even if we make it into print we will still get readers that won't like your stuff, bad reviews and such. So why do we do it? Because we love creating stories. We love feeling what the characters do and our unswaying belief that love will conquer all. We are at heart true romantic and need a creative outlet for our passion. And just think, one day...one day soon, your unmovable passion will get you into print. {end comment}

To round it up, despite all this, I love my job. I don't think I could imagine my life without the creative outlet I have. I wouldn't be able to sleep and I'd be hard to live with and despite the rejections I still carry on. I want to share what I've created with the world and give someone a wonderful journey. But still, I hope to make it to print...one day.

I write like...

Now, I've come across something that got me thinking... When submitting work, some agents want to know whose voice/work you resemble. Now, thinking on this (for my current manuscript) I couldn't come up with any authors...well I haven't come across anything that my work is similar to. Which then made me think harder, I then discovered, my work is a mixture of what I love, action and romance and the fantastic world of fantasy. So in essence my writing isn't like any specific author but an influence of several.

I love reading David Gemmel(Fantasy) and David Morrel(fiction), Matthew Rielly (fiction) and pretty much an eclectic group of romance writers. So whose voice do you consider is most similar to? Or do you (like me) have a voice unique but with vague influences of authors you admire?

Plotting and blanks

Well, over the last few days I've been plotting. Now, I don't do a big ouline and such. My plot map is more of a brief description of each scene - which works for me. Now, I've got about 30 odd scenes listed and have a few more, but the problem I'm finding is Dante is sooo impatient. I can't do a scene with my heroine Rachel, without a voice saying 'boring' lets go do Dante..... Now is that me? Would you do this guy?

Yeh, thought so. So you can see my problem. Although I know he is hot for Rachel - you think he'd wait his turn and be patient. Nup, he wants her at his club now! It's only one scene over, but I really don't like skipping scenes unless I have a serious block. *sigh* But I guess it can't be too bad, he is after all - great eye candy. Ahh, the life of a Romance writer...

WINNERS!!

Winners of my debut novel contest are:

Linda

Sarah Mcneal

Cali Castillo

Pam Pallini

Thanks gals for the support. Expect your necklace in the mail.