Are your characters having Ikea sex? Having trouble writing sex scenes? This video is for you!
Tag: romance writing
Re-Writing The Island
As many of you know, my debut novel was The Island. The love story between Amie, Gabe and Michael. I love this story, with my whole heart. I wrote it more than 7 years ago now, when my heart was full of emotion and my head was in need of a distraction.
I wrote it knowing nothing about plot, structure, character development…I just had this story inside of me.
As much as I love this story, there are parts of me that now cringe when someone wants to read it because I know the writing and story arc are not reflective of the way I write now.
In 24 hours, The Island will be pulled from the shelves. It will be gutted and re-worked. I may go in and add dual POV so we get to know Gabe and Michael better. It could wind up being a duet. I may add some more story elements. I want it to be amazing. I want it to be something I am proud of.
Creating Romantic Chemistry
Camp NaNoWriMo Midpoint Check-in – personal life update
I just love NaNoWriMo. I don’t know if it’s the looming deadline or my competitive nature, but NaNoWriMo kicks my writing butt into gear. As with NaNo in the fall, I used the time to complete The Space Between Us, and I am using Camp NaNo to complete How We Fall, book two in the Men of Evansdale County series.
I am just shy of 40,000 words in my 80,000 word goal!
My cabin mates and I have been keeping tabs on our goals and word counts daily, and last weekends “write in” was quite a success. One of the things that I’ve been doing a little differently this go around is listening to rain sounds instead of music, and it’s been really working for me. THIS ONE and THIS ONE have been my favorites so far.
My goal is to have this book published and in your hands by the end of July!
In other news, I am now a homeschooling mama.
If you know me, you know my youngest son is on the autism spectrum as well as a host of many other issues. This school year has been progressively worse to the point he was recently expelled for nine days. Upon the advice of a teacher and many friends, I found a group called Parent 2 Parent who provided me with two advocates. We spent hours on the phone talking the night before his re-entry meeting. And boy was I glad. When we arrived that morning, it was myself, my two advocates and eleven school board members including the superintendent of schools. It was intimidating to say the least.
I held strong, remained poised and called on my advocates when I needed to.
In the end, I had them change some wording on a bunch of paperwork that kind of “blamed” certain behaviors on me (that I would not have noticed had I not had my advocates) and we fought to have him finish the school year from home. An aid will be coming for an hour or two a day to help him out, and he and I will work on some schoolwork together as well. I think my binder full of school work is more intimidating than that meeting.
How We Fall: Book 2 in The Men of Evansdale County
*Whew* wiping sweat off my brow.
I was on a bit of a book hangover from writing The Space Between Us. It took a lot out of me emotionally and it’s taken me a bit to step back and regroup.
Dean’s brother, Finn, is an interesting guy. He comes from the same background and childhood as Dean obviously – but he’s dealt with it in a different way. Finn is refined, and seemingly at peace, running the top restaurant in Evansdale County. He thinks he’s got it all. Great career. Nice condo. Sweet car and a big flat screen TV and fully stocked wet bar.
In walks Hailee with her smart mouth – challenging him at every turn. Both of their worlds get flipped upside down in the best way possible.
I’ve just sent the first 1/4 of my book off to my early stage beta (who’s gotten her notes to me) and to my proofreader. Scenes are dancing in my head and I cannot wait to bring this story to you!
Stay tuned for more!
