friends and inspiration

I think as far back as my first attempt at novel writing (age 14, 1996 for those keeping track), I've always used my friends for inspiration for my characters and the situations in my books. That first book had some teen pregnancy, back stabbing, two week relationships, violence, kidnapping, secret videotaping, you know, because high school was boring that way. (Hey, at least 60 percent of that story was fiction.) Now, I've gotten a lot more subtle about writing people I know and things I've seen and heard into my stories. (Yes, I said I'm subtle. Don't let anyone tell you different.;-) )

The second book in my Savannah series is coming along well. It's a lot different than I expected it to be. Longer, for one thing. After I finished See Right Through in June, I thought the sequel would be done by August and I'd be well on my way to finishing the third story by now. Well, Derrick, one of my main characters, has a lot more to say to me than I'd anticipated. Apparently, he didn't feel my plans for a novella length story were doing him justice. Especially since he's quite slowly working his way towards the fun and sexy Lee, who featured prominently as one of Sam's friends in the first story. Let's see, See Right Through was a shade over 24,000 words. So far, the sequel is a little over 35,000 words and I think it'll reach 60-70,000 when it's done. It's been a while since I've written something that length (Hooked was 50,000 words), but I'm excited about the story I'm telling.

This story is different for me partly because I'm telling the people I've based the characters on that I'm writing about them. For some, their influence will be obvious to anyone who knows them, for others, the references are more subtle and something only they would notice. One of the people I'm using as inspiration for Lee is Cody.

Cute, right? I did create the basics of the character before I got to know Cody, but as I learn more about him, the more I realize he is quite like the way I'm developing Lee in the story. Now, he has nothing to worry about. I'm not actually planning to put his life story in my book. But he shares some great similarities with my character and I'm looking forward to drawing on that more. Plus (and here's the exciting part) if I'm lucky, Cody will agree to be on the cover for the sequel. Granted, I'm still trying to talk him into it, but I'm hoping he'll grant me the honor of agreeing once he sees the final picture.

So, I have a kinky side

Yeah, kinky (mind) = me. I'm sure the people reading this who know me will be shocked to read that. Shocked, I tell you. And yet, I am the most boring person when it comes to adventurous pursuits. All my creative energy goes into my stories. Some of it is more adventurous than others. And goodness knows I've written some things I have no practical knowledge of (in spite of that the fact I've had three different people who don't know each other say I'd be a good dominatrix).

Right now I'm reading Whip Me, Beat Me, Make Me Write Hot Sex! in an attempt to get a more factual basis for things I've written about in the past and at least one book that's in the works in the Savannah series. The book is fairly straightforward so far, and I'm hoping it goes into more detail later. (Shut up. Yes, you. No laughing in the corner there.) I'm all about the educational books. Especially if they have pictures.

my year in retrospect

It's been an interesting year for me. I've done less writing this year than last year, but I feel like I got more accomplished. I finally got a game plan for my Savannah series nailed down. Sort of gave up on my writing/critique group (though I have hopes it could come back). And I published my favorite story.

I know, I know. Any writers who are reading this are probably screaming that I can never pick a favorite one. It's like telling my other babies they are unloved. Well, maybe. It's not that I love it more than my other stories, it's just my current favorite. It's the one I put the most blood and tears into this year. It's the one I drove myself crazy getting as close to perfect as I could. And it also got the least attention. (Cue the whining about underrated artistry or something along those lines.)

That's probably my fault. Because an early (shorter) version of The Strength of a Man was available last year, I didn't do a huge promo push when I released the full version on ebook and paperback. And I meant to take out some advertising and do some giveaways, but I got caught up with other things. One of the drawbacks to self-publishing is that I have to manage my time between writing and promoting - social networking can be a gift and a curse. But I love this book and I want more people to read it.

So, this is it. I've decided to give away as many copies as I can between now and Christmas day. My baby is now my gift to you and whoever you choose to share the links with: Smashwords (use code RR73V) and All Romance Ebooks.

Next year, I hope to get a lot more done, both in number of stories published and in feeling more accomplished. In the meantime, I think I'm growing as a writer with every new story. I hope you will take that journey with me.

BTW, if any of you are stuck for ideas for Christmas gifts, honest reviews are my favorite gift.

Winding down and gearing up: a ramble

So, what's going on with me you ask?

NaNoWriMo was... interesting. Meh. I write at a snail's pace these days, so no, I didn't get 50,000 words in November. I did add nearly 26,000 to story, which is more than I've written on it since February of last year altogether. (Yes, I know that's a really long time, but technically I just wrote the idea down so I wouldn't forget it and actually started on the story this year before I put it down to write the first in the series.)

In other words, the second book in the Savannah series is coming along. See the little widget down the page there? --> I'm sure it's going to be longer than 50,000 words, but that's a good indication of how it's going so far. I'm in love with this one (aren't I always?) and I'll start posting excerpts as soon as I get a finished first draft.

What else? Rereading Daron's Guitar Chronicles. Falling in love with Daron's story all over again. Annoyed with Ziggy. Remembering things that happen in later parts of the story as I'm rereading and getting excited because I'd forgotten some of the details. Oh, and people? We're being blessed with Volume 4 ebook! Get it. Now. You like m/m? Music? You want your life to be sucked away while you catch up with the rest of the readers and anticipate the next chapter? Buy the ebooks, the paperbacks, audiobooks or just read the series online. (Oh, but take my advice, buy the ebooks from the website. You'll get more fan satisfaction out of that.)

I did mention Daron and company inspired the serial I've been working on for eons. I'll have to give the story a shoutout in mine somehow. Ooh, maybe my characters can be Moondog Three fans. Let me write that down somewhere so I don't forget...

love, tears & inspiration

I've finally done it. I've finally written the first scene in this book that made me cry after I finished it.

NaNo is...going. I've have had some starts and stops, but mostly it's been success. There have been times when I want to pull my hair out in frustration, but then there are days when I just hit my stride and it all just falls together (like today!). I'll consider it a job well done if I can get this book finished by the end of the year. Shooting for an early March release.

So, what was I saying? Oh, yes. The tears. My main character's mother is suffering from early onset Alzheimer's and I have her sitting down with her son to discuss her wishes for him - finding love and enjoying life, etc. There's more to it than that, but I can't post it without crying again.

It's crazy. These heavy emotional scenes are so easy for me to write because I just open the document and let the emotions pour onto the page. This scene in particular is nearly word for word what I want to say to someone in real life, but can't because we're not that close anymore. Which is a shame because this person needs to hear it from someone, though it would be awkward coming from me.

So, there you have it. Carol Sharp, a woman who only exists in my imagination and in an unfinished document on my computer, made me do something I've been fighting off for over a week. I cried - over love, the lack of it and my wish to give it someone else though I'm not in the position to right now.

Ah, the life of an introvert has ups and downs. Pro: Being able to write fantastic emotion into a story and make readers feel it as much as I do. Con: The inability or difficulty of interacting with people in the real world. I suppose that's a good trade-off, if you're at least recognized for the brilliant writing that results.

NaNoWriMo and the Ambitious Writer

It's that time again. I'm going to tie up my muse, strap on the caffeine IV and attempt to cram 50,000 words of awesome into 30 days of crazy. What does this mean? Well, I'll finish the second book in the Savannah series for sure next month. And possibly finish the first part of the serial I've been toying around with for months. For the record, those stories have several chapters and quite a bit of notes between them. I just need a major push to get both finished. NaNo also means I'll be crazier than usual. I wonder if anyone will notice.

If anyone wants to follow my progress, I'll be here, hopped up on leftover Halloween candy and overdosed on hope.

short and sexy

Looking for something quick and hot to sink into during your lunch break or commute? My new short story Getting In Deep is now available from Amazon, All Romance Ebooks and Smashwords.


In her years of working as a journalist, Catherine O'Malley knew one thing above all others: getting to the heart of the truth requires unfailing integrity. Shaun Stone's embezzlement trial was the story of the decade and she'd been lucky enough to receive an exclusive interview with him. When the interview is done, will Catherine risk everything she's worked for or will the temptation Shaun provides prove too much to handle?