On the Dotted Line

I finally received my contract from Carina Press, the electronic arm of Harlequin. It's long. I have some reading to do this afternoon, but I'm excited and eager to get it done, because once the contract's signed, my editor, Melissa Johnson, and I can get started polishing the book for publication. I can hardly wait.

In the meantime, I thought I put down in writing a goal of mine and how I plan to achieve it. After reading the steps, I'm sure you'll detect a pattern. Such is the life of an author. But I'm actually not just waiting, I'm busily writing the next book in the series. It's a rare day when I don't write.

Twelve Step Program for Becoming a 

USA Today Bestselling Author

1. Sell to Carina Press
2. Wait
3. Sign contract
4. Complete developmental edits
5. Wait
6. Complete line edits
7. Wait
8. Approve the book cover
9. Wait
10. Announce release of the book
11. Wait
12. Pray

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?

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.