It's here! It's here!

Yay! My latest book is in print -- Candy, Corpses and Classified Ads -- available right here:

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/5ukz4y

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/5rwqqq

This book has a long and checkered history: bought by a publisher 2 years ago, said publisher closed, the book bounced around a bit, and now ... ta da ... it's here!

So excited .....

Once again ... first chapters

State Fair update: chocolate covered bacon is interesting, but not a keeper. I did like the Frog Legs, though (battered green beans, deep fried). Quite yummy.

I'm on a new WIP and feeling pretty good about it. The first chapter is going well, and as we all know, that's critical -- this one is tricky because it's the second book in a series, so I want to give a bit of history but not too much. I have to introduce the characters quickly but not give too much detail for those who know the characters from the first book.

A challenge ... I are up to it!

Changing voices ... again

I struggled for a couple of days with that WIP and I've decided to put it aside for now and edit a previous book for submission. The plot just wasn't coming together for me -- luckily, I've got a couple of other things in the queue that will distract me enough so I can come back with a fresh eye (I hope).

Off to the State Fair today, that extravaganza of eating, people-watching, and gossip with my friends. I'm wearing my pedometer and if it's like last year, we will walk about 10 miles today.

Feet, don't fail me now!

Learning a new voice

I'm starting book 3 of my paranormal series, and I'm focusing it on a new set of characters. The first book focused on Isbel and Cyrus; the second on Dru and Jak; and this third book will focus on Jessa and Bron.

Isbel, Dru, and Bron are half-siblings, which is part of the continuity thread running through the books. The other thread is the political upheaval on their planet -- Dru, Jak and Bron are leaders in their government and they face a lot of challenges in this third book.

As you can tell -- it's complex, but that's not the part that has me worried. With each book I need to slip into the mind of a different person, a different personality. I have a good sense for this book of 'who' Bron is, but Jessa has me a bit worried. I'm not sure I'll so easily slip into her mind for her chapters. So I'm spending a lot of time fleshing out her history (none of which will appear in the book except by allusion to it) so I can get a sense of who she is.

Most of my characters are loosely based on people I know or on archtypes, but Jessa is a bit of a conumdrum. So I may need to postpone her entry into the story until I know her better.

Thoughts and musings on the writing life for a Tuesday ....

That in-between place again

I finished the second book in my paranormal series for Wild Rose -- finished it on Thursday. So I'm at that in-between place again: not quite done with the last book, not ready to start the next one.

I did decide what I'll start next: Book 3 in this series. The characters are firmly in my head, so I want to continue on. The In-Between Place (IBP) is somewhat relaxing, but I find that I always have a lot of catching up to do. I tend to put a lot of things on hold when I'm deep into writing, and now I have to deal with those things: promotion, scheduling, balancing the checkbook .... just daily Stuff.

I'm pleased with how the last book turned out and I'm anxious to start the next one, but I'm trying to restrain myself a bit ... I think the book is better (and the writing goes faster) if I take some time to think about it because I launch into it.

So I'm in Think Mode now ...