Lost Coast travel article

The September edition of the Wet Noodle Posse e-zine is ready for viewing, and it's packed with a wonderful assortment of goodies, as always. Be sure and check out my travel article about California's Lost Coast--my little corner of the world.


Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!

Weekend escape

It's days like this when I ask myself why I decided to write a book. This book, to be precise. Was it Sunday that I wrote a scene that made me smile? Was it Monday that I posted a note on this blog stating that I love my job?


That was then; this is now. And I'm not too happy with the scene I'm working on at the moment. Of course, if I manage to wrestle the nasty thing to the ground and win this round, all will be right with the world again. I'll enjoy the fact that the sun is shining, I'll hop in the car and treat myself to a blended mocha (with a shot of vanilla), and I'll check out the schedule at the local cinema and make some weekend movie plans.

Have you seen Becoming Jane? What did you think? I'm used to living in my happily-ever-after worlds, and I can't decide whether I want to buy a ticket to watch a romance that doesn't feature the big payoff at the end. Okay, maybe this film's not about the romance (shock! horror! dismay!). Maybe it's about something else, something more. But it's got period costumes and clever talk and twinkling piano music and that Austenesque atmosphere going for it, so I know I'll get sucked in and swept away and...dumped. Just like real life for too many of us.

Real life. Escapist romance. Sigh. Time to get back to work and find my own happily-ever-after in this current project.

Producing a book, step-by-step

It occurred to me while I was writing yesterday's blog entry that I should share the stages of writing a book. People are often surprised to hear that I have three or four projects in progress at the same time, but once you see the steps involved in getting a book on the shelves, you'll understand why things overlap.

First I think of some characters and a story idea. I sketch out information about the characters and the highlights of the plot in a written outline, or synopsis, and write the first three chapters. This is the formal proposal I send to my editor. If she likes what I've presented, she'll give me a contract for the book and ask when I'll have it finished. When I give her that date, I have my first deadline.

Now I have to write the whole thing, from start to finish. I usually spend three to four months writing that first draft--approximately three books a year.

Several weeks after I send in the manuscript, my editor reads my story and makes some suggestions for improvements. She sends a revision letter and gives me another deadline--usually about a month or so. I make the changes she's suggested, and I always make lots of my own, too. Revisions are my favorite part of the process.

Approximately eight months before the book will appear in stores, I'm asked to provide several pages of information about the characters, settings, and theme so the marketing and art departments can begin work on the cover. Completing the art sheets can take several days.

Weeks after I've mailed the revised manuscript, I receive a package with a photocopy of that manuscript with the editor's line edits. These marks generally apply to the language and writing rather than the story, although I'll sometimes find a few more questions or comments in the margins. Line edits can keep me busy for a week or two. I send my comments or responses to my editor in an e-mail, and then I wait several more weeks for the next stage.

Eventually I receive a copy of the printout, or galley. This is my last chance to proofread the manuscript before it's printed as a book. There are always a few things to tweak at this point, so I go through it very carefully. But it's exciting to read the story at this stage, now that each element has been refined and the language made as smooth as possible. I can hardly wait for my readers to see the final product.

A month or two after I finish the printout, I get to see the cover for the first time--and now I get busy with my promotion activities. There's a contest to organize on my Web site, bookmarks to order, and advance copies to send to reviewers.

How long does the entire process take? Nearly a year, from the time I get a story idea to the day I see the book on the store shelves. And the overlapping projects? In one month I may be jotting down story ideas for Book A, writing the first draft of Book B, working on line edits for Book C, and dealing with the promotion for Book D. There are conferences to attend, interview questions to answer, books to mail, correspondence to handle, and Web site updates to arrange.


Writing happily-ever-after stories keeps me busy, but I love my job!

Looking out for a hero

I always find it amazing to read through the printout of a book--the final version I proof and make a few last-chance corrections on before the book goes into print. It's usually been several months since I last looked at the manuscript, months filled with work on other projects, months focused on other stories that required my attention.

Suddenly this "old" project appears once again on my desk, and it's clean and smooth and...amazing. Soon I'll see the cover for the first time, and then I'll wait impatiently for the book to appear on store shelves.

I'd forgotten the little details in the plot, and the urgency of the kiss scenes, and the parts that tug at the heart. I'd forgotten lines of dialogue, and I'm surprised to find myself laughing out loud in spots. I wrote this stuff? Amazing.

Today I spent some time getting reacquainted with Nick Martelli, the "stranger" in A Perfect Stranger. He was the first hero I ever created, and he's still a favorite--perfect in many ways, and imperfect in others that made him a lot of fun to write. Now he's a lot of fun to read about. He surprises me, and he makes me laugh, and he tugs at my heart.

What are your favorite types of heroes?

Daydreaming of a fresh start

This afternoon my husband and I wandered through some new condominiums overlooking the boardwalk on Humboldt Bay (on the left). It was so much fun imaging living in one of those brand new, beautiful spaces and enjoying the wonderful views--flags fluttering along the boardwalk, fanciful Victorian storefronts lining the streets of Old Town, kayaks and sailboat gliding through the marina, the waters of the bay glittering in the sunlight.

On the way home we played one of our favorite "what if" games. What if we made a move to a smaller, simpler space--what would our lives be like? No more big dogs. Family heirloom furniture passed to the children earlier than planned. Possessions pared to the absolute minimum. Yes, we could walk to our favorite restaurants and enjoy the ambience of the city, but we'd no longer have the space to host large family dinners.

Now I find myself daydreaming of views of the water and snug spaces for two. What about you--where would you move if you could? Would you want a smaller space? A larger one? A view of the water or the mountains? Room for a garden or a terrace for pots? City living or country life?

Introducing a new Superromance author

I've know Beth for several years. She's a beautiful person and a terrific writer.

At the RWA conference in Dallas in July, I cheered as she accepted her Golden Heart award for best Long Contemporary manuscript. I knew I'd be hearing wonderful news from her soon--I figured she'd be getting that magic call from an editor any day.

And she did! Beth's first book will be on the shelves in June of 2008, and I can hardly wait to read it--I know it will be fabulous!

I think the best part of her news is that she sold to Harlequin's Superromance line, but that might be because I'm a little prejudiced.

Congratulations, Beth Andrews. And welcome to Superromance!

Hammering a story into shape

I'm currently racing down the home stretch on the first draft of River Run, and I'm finally beginning to see how this story will shape up. Are you surprised it's taken me this long to figure things out? Well, that's what happens when a writer works by the seat of her pants.

Some writers use an outline to keep them on track. I've discovered I don't work well that way. I prefer to fly blindly through the entire process the first time through. Once I know and trust my characters well enough to let them choose their own directions, I never know where they'll lead me.

Writing like this can be a lot of fun--but it can also be scary and stressful as the deadline approaches. Will I figure things out in time to get those last few pages written?

Stay tuned!

Brightening the work day

In many American homes, the "living room" is sometimes the room no one uses--the room no one "lives" in. In our house, the living room is the room I work in, so it's the room that's used most often.

While I was traveling, my husband installed some reproduction lights that were created for this room where I spend so many of my days. I have to admit, these beautiful chandeliers are a bit of a distraction at the moment, but I'm thrilled they're now shedding light on my work in style.

The four-light chandelier is centered over the seating area, in the middle of the room. I love the way it's reflected in the mirror above the fireplace. The smaller, coordinating light hangs directly over my desk, which is tucked into a five-sided bay nook surrounded by windows.

We've added antique or reproduction chandeliers to many of the rooms throughout our house, and we hope eventually to replace all the original fixtures with more unique styles. Creating the house in our imaginations is a never-ending process.

Do you enjoy changing or updating your surroundings? What redecorating project is living in your imagination?

Switching from daffodils to dahlias

I often wish there were more hours in a day, so I could get more accomplished. Traveling home from New Zealand gave me a double dose of Monday: I toured a bit of Auckland Monday morning, packed and traveled to the airport, boarded the plane after dinner and flew through the night to San Francisco--and when I arrived at noon, it was still Monday in California.

Here's a view of Auckland (on the left) from a hotel window. I walked down this street--Albert Street--with fellow conference attendees one evening for a fabulous dinner at a quay-side restaurant. The next day, I took a taxi to the Domain for a trip through the War Memorial Museum and this lovely view (below) from the hilltop.




Just as I knew I would, I'm already missing the people I met and the places I visited. It wasn't much trouble transitioning from tea time to coffee breaks (I did miss my blended mochas while I was gone!), but I'm finding it difficult to settle down to work today. However, there's the first draft of River Run to finish and the printout of A Perfect Stranger to proofread by next week--time to get back to work.

Tonight we're having a family dinner, and I'll share some memories and distribute souvenir gifts. I've brought back several prints to frame and set around my house. They'll remind me of beautiful places and the very special people who live there.

What treasures remind you of travel experiences?

Love stories

I've been busy with conference events here in Auckland for the past two days. It's always exciting and energizing to spend time with other writers, but sometimes we get so caught up in our craft concerns that we forget we all share one other thing in common: our love of love stories.

There's a certain soft and dreamy expression that flickers across the face of romance writers when we remember what's at the heart of our daydreaming and storytelling: that first rush of love. The lingering glances, the tender touches, the delicious kisses, the thrilling fall, the life-changing promise.

Right now, I'm surrounded by people who are walking around with happily-ever-after stories inside them, eager to put them down on the page. It's a happy place to be.

At the kiwi conference

Greetings from Auckland, New Zealand, where the weather may be wintry, but the people are as warm and sunny as the cheeriest summer day.


Yesterday I'd planned to do a bit of sightseeing, but the combination of wind and rain kept me in my hotel room. So I worked on the current book project. Ah, yes, the book project--the underlying reason for all this travel and fun!

I did make one brief trip to a local mall, searching for lunch at the food court. I had a choice of Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, and Indian cuisines, in addition to Italian and Mexican offerings. Once I'd filled my plate with a number of interesting-looking items, I carried my tray to a table beneath a video screen tuned to rugby highlights.

New tastes, sounds, and sights--what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. What are some of your favorite out-of-the-ordinary experiences?

Blustery bays

Yesterday afternoon I cruised Sydney harbor on a tour. If it's this beautiful on a drizzly winter day, it must be dazzling when the sun is shining.


We headed east along the middle harbor, past the famous opera house, viewing the fabulous houses lining the cliffs and beaches and the sleek boats dotting the marinas and bays. I wished I could see the views at night, when the city skyline blazes against the night sky and the lights of the suburbs reflect on the water.

One of the most thrilling views was a sudden, dramatic gash in the cliffs and the sapphire Pacific stretching to the horizon: the harbor entrance. The tour boat dipped and rolled in the ocean swells, and I could imagine the excitement of the sailors who first explored this amazing harbor.

When I return home, I'm going to learn more about the history of Sydney. The stories I heard during the past few days are fascinating.

Tea time

Today I hopped on a tour bus and motored around central Sydney, enjoying the city sights. What a gorgeous place! It's a bit like San Diego--sparkling water everywhere. And a bit like New York--tall buildings, hustle and bustle, and a wonderful, open green area in the center. And a bit like San Francisco--hilly, charming, lots of character.

When the guide pointed out the Chinese Garden of Friendship, I remembered Lisa's blog comment about how beautiful it looked. And since it was time for lunch, I stepped off the bus to check it out.


Thanks for the recommendation, Lisa! Wandering the peaceful paths was such a nice break in the middle of the day. I sampled salmon sandwiches and fancy little cakes in the tea house you see on the right, watching fat koi swim in the pool while I tossed bits of bread to greedy sparrows that crowded, begging, around my ankles.

Tomorrow I head to New Zealand for another writing conference--trading koalas for kiwis.

Souvenirs of Sydney

The annual conference of the Romance Writers of Australia ended yesterday, and already I'm missing the wonderful people I met over the weekend.

Last night I joined a group of Australian and New Zealand authors, including fellow Noodler Trish Morey, for an informal harbor-side dinner. What a fun group! They're making plans to come to San Francisco for the 2008 Romance Writers of America annual conference, and I hope to see many of them again there.

This morning I headed out to do a bit of sightseeing. I stopped in at Queen Victoria Building to buy some souvenirs for my family and admire the architecture. On the top level, I met a woman from London, and we took each other's pictures posing beneath the marvelous stained glass dome.

I've found a new favorite treat: chocolate caramel slice. I had a small piece for afternoon tea yesterday and another sample today during a tea break at the QVB. It's a bit like the sugary, caramel-like filling for pecan pie, topped with a thin layer of rich, dark chocolate. I found the recipe, and I plan to make some when I get back home. Yummm.

Wish you were here

I'd like to say it was Lisa's advice on dealing with technology that bailed me out of my photo problem, but it was more technology. I found different software that would work, and voilà! Lousy photos from my hotel window, just for you.

Trust me, the view is much prettier than what I've captured here.

I posted a blog entry on the Wet Noodle Posse's blog, so check it out when you have the time and chat with me there about your favorite craft activities. I'd love to hear from you!

Hmmm...maybe I should take up photography as a craft. I might learn something handy.

Having a g'day

Hello from down under! I knew I'd enjoy visiting Australia, but I couldn't imagine how much. From the moment I walked beneath a cheery yellow banner at the Sydney airport wishing me a g'day, I've been enchanted with the place and the people. Aussies give the word friendly their own special spin.


From my hotel window I have a view of Darling Harbour--a pedestrian bridge lined with fluttering flags, yachts sporting deck chairs, families visiting the aquarium, ships churning white wakes in the blue water. I took some pictures--and I think they turned out!--but my bad luck with things photographic continues. This time it's the connection between my camera and my computer's software: no downloads yet.

At least I'm consistent.

Heading south for a bit of winter

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Australia and New Zealand, where I'll be presenting workshops at writing conferences. I'd promise to keep up the blog and post lots of pictures...but I'm remembering what happened last time I promised to do those things.

So this time I'm promising to take lousy pictures (when I remember to pull my camera out of my purse, that is) and have lots of trouble accessing the Internet (which will bring on e-mail withdrawal pangs).

Maybe I'll have better luck this time. I sure hope so!

In the meantime, if anyone sees the new romantic comedy No Reservations, let me know if you think I should splurge on an evening at the theater or wait for it to come out on video.

Pucker up

I'm absolutely in love with kisses. Long, lingering tastes, short, smacky pecks, nibbling teases. The anticipation, the nearness, the contact, the rush, the affection.

I especially love first kisses. Will he? Will she let me? How should I make my move? Too soon? Too much? How long? How...ahhhh.

My favorite part of any romantic movie or romance novel is the first kiss scene. I watch and read them over and over. I once gave a workshop on first kisses, trying to analyze and share the magic. I don't think I've ever enjoyed researching a topic as much as I enjoyed watching all those film clips I used in my presentation.

What do you like in a first kiss scene? What are some of your favorite movie and novel kisses?

Starting point

Which comes first: the character or the plot? It's a bit like asking which comes first: the chicken or the egg?

Romance novels are character-driven stories, but there still has to be a premise...which causes some character conflict concerning that premise...which in turn drives some sort of action...which forces the characters to deal with internal issues...which spurs the next bit of action and reaction and so on.

How do I start a story? It depends on the story and what bits of inspiration come to me first. In Learning Curve, the hero suddenly appeared in my imagination, and then I asked myself who would be the worst possible person for him to be forced to deal with. Those two characters came bundled with a specific job situation, which in turn provided plenty of ideas for events and conflicts.

For my current project, River Run, I first chose a premise. I knew who the hero and heroine had to be, but I set them aside and sketched the twists and turns of their increasingly confrontational situation. Once that external framework was in place, I was able to devote my writing time to discovering their reactions to all that's going on around them.

Each story takes a different path, so the process is never quite the same. Some days I wish there were a simple formula I could follow to The End. But then I'd miss one of the best things about writing: the surprises.

Multitasking

The first time I heard this term, it had a certain appeal. What a wonderful concept--and how much more wonderful to carry it off with style. I wanted to be known as an accomplished multitasker, and at times, when I was younger, I think I managed the feat fairly well.

Now the term is a bit of a nag. Am I not making the best use of my time if I'm not doing three or four things at once? Must I have several items on my list of things-to-do-at-the-moment, every moment? At least the writing job provides me with one handy excuse for apparent inactivity: I'm not daydreaming, I'm plotting.

How do you deal with the demands of hectic modern life? Do you feel guilty when you turn down the volume of tasks and sink into just one thing?

Winners!

Congratulations to Lisa, Pat, and Viv, who will each receive a signed author's copy of Maybe, Baby (as soon as they send me their addresses).

Be sure to continue stopping by for blog visits and more chances to win some fun prizes.

New for August: the latest issue of the Wet Noodle Posse's e-zine. Check out articles such as superheroines through history, fun wine cork place holders, regional recipes, and a visit to Victoria, British Columbia.