Title Approval

Happy day. The new title of Joe and Livvy's book, the third in the Be-Wished series, is officially ONCE UPON A KISS.

I am now working on the synopsis for the Big Boss, Raelene.

Sold!

My editor liked the revisions. We're still hammering out the ending, but it looks like the third Be-Wished book is a go! WOOT!

P.S. Unfortunately, the title has to be scrapped. Asking For It is too close to Ask For It, a book EC has already published. So, I'm trying to think of a new title.

Done. Again.

I just turned in ASKING FOR IT for the second time. It was a massive rewrite since my editor requested that I remove an entire subplot. I hope that this newest version meets or even exceeds her expectations. I should hear back from her in four weeks. In the meantime, I want to try my hand at some confession stories.

Also, we're getting a dog--an adorable tri-color Chihuahua--tomorrow. So there will be some adjustments to be made at the Willoughby household!

Stubborn Heroes

So, Joe was being difficult again. Recently, he refused to change professions. More lately, he's resisting a personality makeover.

I was rewriting him to be a wounded hero both physically and mentally. In the scene where he and Livvy first meet, he was sullen, angry, and not quite reconciled with his disability. I really pushed that change through almost the entire book, but I can see now it's just not him. He would not allow me to make him so self-absorbed, even with the excuse of being a paraplegic to fall back on. It's easy to understand that that type of injury could take a very long time to adjust to, but Joe was determined to bounce back faster than I was making him. He would not, in short, be a jerk.

Writing is such an interesting and mentally unbalanced endeavor.

Also, isn't this the most kick ass wheelchair you've ever seen?

Chuggin' Along

I now have 14 days left until deadline, but the ASKING FOR IT revisions are going well. I'm excited about what I've written the past couple of days. I can see why people enjoy writing suspense, because when exciting stuff happens, you write faster! At least, I do.

Joe won't wear suspenders

I am deep in rewrites for Asking For It. My editor, Grace, and I had a discussion about the changes, and the book is going to be fantastic, however, one of the changes we discussed was changing Joe's profession from Army man to firefighter. I was all gung-ho, until I started enacting the change.

He didn't take well to being a firefighter. The words that had come from his mouth didn't feel right for a firefighter to utter. I think it's because in my mind soldiers are raw, gritty and unashamedly aggressive--living, breathing hunks of masculinity. Firefighters, on the other hand, are like contemporary knights--noble, brave, and honorable--living, breathing hunks of chivalry. They're sort of evolved and a little more civilized.

I know I'm stereotyping, but there ya go. A man's profession is vital to his character. And Joe's just not liking the idea of being a firefighter. Not. One. Bit.

Sorry, Grace.

Where's that Drawing Board?

...because I need to get back to it. Grace had many good things to say about Asking For It, but also identified many major problems, so many that she can't offer a contract yet. I've been invited to revise and resubmit.

Needless to say, I'm disappointed. There's a lot of work ahead. A lot. I think I may have to write two thirds of the book anew.

Yeah. I don't want to think about that right now. Still in the "licking my wounds" phase.

The Wait

So, my editor, Grace (I love that name), has my manuscript. Tomorrow she'll have had it a week. If I had nails, I'd be biting them. (They're in very sorry shape from all the water exposure at work.) I really am dying to know what she thinks.

It's a little ridiculous to take so long writing something and then be impatient afterward. Oh, well. It's not like I don't have Woman's World stories I need to write.

The End

I've finished ASKING FOR IT, the third Be-Wished book! I'm so happy. I can't wait for my editor to read it, but she doesn't get back from Jamaica until Monday. Even though she and I have never worked together before, I love her already because she gave me a hard deadline that really lit a fire under me.

The very last line in the book is

Love him forever.

Tee hee. I don't think I spoiled the ending for anyone.