Today I’m taking part in the ‘My Writing Process’ blog tour. Thank you to my lovely fellow HarperImpulse author, Nikki Moore, for inviting me to join in. You can find her post from last Monday here -
http://nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com/blog-posts/ Please do pop over and check it out.
So here is a bit about my own writing process….
1) What am I working on?
I’m currently doing final edits on my next story for HarperImpulse, which is due out on 27th February. It’s called ‘Love Is A Four Letter Word’.
Take one rich girl who has a thing for the bad boys.
Take one tough guy who thinks possession is nine-tenths of the misery law.
Mix generously with a land dispute and a whole lotta lust…. And what have you got?
Sometimes being bad can be just too good to miss.Now, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be showing you this yet, but here is a sneaky preview of my very hot cover!
I must say, I liked the cover HarperImpulse designed for me for 'Summer of Surrender' but they've gone one better this time, I love it!
So, back to the story.... It’s an erotic romance, featuring a very sexy bad boy and his motorbike (interested yet?), some hot sex (in very naughty and imaginative positions and places!), a bohemian artist, and a girl who just can’t resist the bad boys – because a good one might expect her to commit and settle down…. But sometimes love can just creep up on you and catche you unawares.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Although I write erotic romance, with lots of hot sex, I like to bring out the sensual side, genuine feeling and passion between the main characters. I want readers to smile, cry and get hot and bothered! I do have a soft spot for alpha heroes, but they usually have a sense of humour, and the banter between the characters, and the growing relationship between them is as important as the heat in the sack. I also hope that although a lot of romance tropes are used all the time, I do put my own unique twist on the ones I use.
I also love writing contemporary romance, and the next story I’m working on combines all of this – a true bonkbuster based in the English countryside, look out for it!
3) Why do I write what I do?
I write the type of stories that I love to read. About real life characters I can believe in, but with that element of escapism. My favourite films, and books, are true love stories, but have a humorous edge to them that leaves a warm and fuzzy feeling. I really hope that my stories leave that feel good feeling behind as well.
4) How does my writing process work?
Something I read or see usually triggers off a ‘what if?’ and from that I get a gorgeous hero, or sparky heroine, and a very vague plot which includes a start and an end and not much about what happens in the middle! This is followed usually by a first chapter that I have to write before I do any planning at all. I then need a title – I can’t get any further until I have that, plus character names that I love.
With most of my books, I’ve then plotted out the main turning points and the black moment, so I’ve got the four quarters of the book. I then plot out the first quarter in more detail chapter by chapter to make sure I have character development, believable conflicts etc. After I’ve written this I then plot out the next quarter.
But, just to throw a spanner in the works, my latest book isn’t following this route at all! As it is a bonkbuster, with lots of characters, most of my work has been around really getting under the skin of the characters. I need to really know them, and what is going to happen to each of them during the course of the story. How they interact, and how their actions have an impact on everyone else is key. So this one is definitely character driven!
I do have a title (of course), a beginning (which is based on true events), and know the end!
So, that's a brief look at my writing process, which is constantly changing!
Next Monday, 24th check out the posts from these
wonderful authors;
Amanda Jane Ward,
who you can find <here>
Aurelia B Rowl- find her
post next week <here>
Aurelia B. Rowl lives
on the edge of the Peak District in the UK with her very understanding husband,
their two fantastic children, and their mad rescue mutt who doesn’t mind being
used as a sounding post and source of inspiration. She regularly wows them all
with her curious, hastily thrown together meals when she gets too caught up
with her latest writing project… or five!… and she has developed the fine art
of ignoring the housework.
Aurelia B. Rowl writes
Young Adult/New Adult crossover fiction and contemporary romance. To find out
more about Aurelia, or check out which project she’s working on right now, you
can visit her website: www.aureliabrowl.com
And on 3rd March Christy McKellen – her post is <here>
B.K. (Before Kids)
Christy worked as a Video and Radio Producer in London and Nottingham. After a
decade of dealing with nappies, tantrums and endless questions from toddlers,
she has come out the other side and moved into the wonderful world of
literature. She now spends her time writing flirty, sexy romance with a kick
(her dream job!). Her website address is: www.christymckellen.com
