First Line This Morning - Alex's Story (IN THE ZONE 3)

Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

I've officially begun writing IN THE ZONE book three, Alex Sullivan and Claire's story. (Hm. I just realized I don't have a last name for her. Her sister's maiden name was Collier, but Claire was married and divorced and I never gave her a married name. LOL)

I spent over an hour this morning skimming through both of the first two books and jotting down any character traits I mentioned and actual things they did in those stories. Alex appeared a lot, often as comic relief. 

Right after I woke up today--spontaneously at 3:55 a.m.--I thought of the first line of the book. Who knows if it'll stay? Usually my first first lines don't, but you never know.

Alex Sullivan was totally fucked up. And not in that “I just drank eight gallons of champagne because my team won the NHL Northwest Division title” way.

Favorite Quotes #6 - Write, write, write

I learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.
Ernest Hemingway


I've started a new book. I was inspired by my team's win of the STANLEY CUP. I sort of got obsessed with hockey players. They're so darn virile. Like modern day gladiators. The last two stories I wrote were for men, so I want to get back to writing something for my own sex. 


I chose this quote because I write pretty slow. I need every trick I can find to help me produce more quickly, so this quote reminded me of something I used to do...stop in the middle of a sentence, where I know exactly what was going to come next. Then, when I start each day, I can really START. 


P.S. I never really did enjoy reading Hemingway, but maybe someday I'll give his stuff another chance.

Back to the Drawing Board

I wrote the end. I really did. But it didn't work out right. It didn't feel right. So I'm writing another ending.

I feel a little badly about that, especially considering my very patient editor has been looking forward to reading this for months now. But on the other hand, I truly think the story will be much the better for this extra attention and it'll be worth it in the long run.

On a side note, in my snippet file, the place where I dump all the big sections I can't bear to delete completely, I have almost 16,000 words. LOL. I'd post a chunk here, but I just looked at the last part I pasted there and it sucks. So never mind!

Davina's Book

Good news. I have finished the first draft of Davina's story. Some of you may remember her as the wacky wish fairy from the first three Be-Wished books. My critique partner is hard at work reviewing it and after I do everything she says (LOL) I'll be sending it to my editor, Grace at Ellora's Cave.

Review for Once Upon A Kiss

Happily Ever After Reviews (how apropos for this book!) gave Once Upon A Kiss...

5 Teacups!

Here's a little snippet of what they said.

Beginning with the blurb, this talented author immediately drew me into the lives of these two amazing characters. Kate Willoughby delivers a well-balanced story with a twist and I didn’t want it to end. With just the right mixture of romance and sizzling sex scene, this book is an excellent read with a fairy tale ending.

Color me really happy. Hopefully lots of people will take their advice and buy it. I'm really excited to see what the royalties are for this first month because, don't forget, I promised to put aside a percentage for the Wheelchair Foundation, an organization that provides wheelchairs for people who need but can't afford them. It costs about $150 for a wheelchair and I'm determined to make a difference in one person's life via my writing.

Once Upon A Kiss Celebration Week - Day Four

When one of my books comes out, I traditionally do a sex tally. Here are how the numbers fall for Once Upon A Kiss:

Number of sex scenes - NINE. Wow. I think that's a record for me.
Percentage of sex in the book - 8%
Longest sex scene - 1,418 words
Shortest sex scene - 175 words

I'm wondering what the shortest sex scene you could write would be... Maybe, if you really used your imagination it could be one word.

Yes.

Can you write a sex scene in ten or less words? Give it a try and get a chance to win a free book. (Winner to be announced Wednesday, August 25, the day Once Upon A Kiss comes out.

On a Roll

So, I sold another story to Dorchester Publishing.
WOOT! That's two for two submissions. I'm very excited.

"My Secret Sweetheart" will appear in the October 2010 issue of True Romance magazine. It's about a teacher and her forbidden romance...

Polishing It Up

I got my edits today on Once Upon A Kiss. Grace, my editor, says they're not too severe, but I have yet to open the file. I'm excited to get going on this and I am always eager to see what editors have to say.

Another Sale!

I submitted a story to Liquid Silver Books' call for geek stories and they decided they want to publish it! WOOT again! I'm very excited and I can't wait to talk to the editor about it.

This is a picture is of the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, where the hero of the story works as an entomoligist, which is a bug expert. This is not to be confused with an etomologist, which is a word expert.

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.

Wistful Awe

You want to know why Nora Roberts sells so many damn books? I know one of the reasons. She's a master of her craft.

Recently, I read Bed of Roses, the second in her Bride Quartet. In it, there was a scene where the guys are playing Texas Hold 'Em. That scene was freakin' amazing. She was able to show them playing and talking about the game and talking about other shit at the same time and have it flow perfectly. The gestures, the poker taunting, and the regular conversation all blended together and it made me shake my head in amazement.

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.

I'm very very sad. Kate Duffy, the editor of my dreams, has passed away. She told me once I "was a wonderful writer." Those words are etched in my memory. I can even hear her scratchy voice in my head saying them. She also told me, after reading the first three chapters of Losing It, that "it had one too many virgins." LOL

Kate was a mesmerizing speaker and wasn't afraid to tell it like it is and cut through the crap. She was oh so sharp, talented, funny as hell, and one of the brightest stars in the editorial sky.

I will miss her terribly.

Together Again

I heard from Liquid Silver Books about Leap of Faith. Maria Shaink is going to be my editor again on this one. :) She was also my editor on Hostile Takeover, my best selling title, bar none. Soon I'll be revisiting L of F, adding, tightening, revamping. I'm interested to see what Maria wants done to it.

Sale!

I got word today from Johnene Granger of Woman's World magazine. They are buying my short romantic story, "Truth or Dare!" I am still on cloud nine. I intend to remain there for a while.
This means a seventh feather in my cap and $800. Wonder if I can justify a Sony eReader...

Listen Hard!

If you have ever been burned by Spellcheck, watch this.

Fast-paced, exceedingly funny erotic romance

It's official. I love Book Utopia Mom. Here's her review of Losing It (Eppie Award Finalist).

If you want some highlights:

I laughed more in the first 700 words of this novella, than I have at most full-length stories in a very long time.

I can’t emphasize enough how real the interactions in this novella felt. That’s the very root of why I loved the romance in this so very much.

Ms. Willoughby is the most exciting new author I’ve found so far this year. This was an exhilaratingly funny, wonderfully sexy romance. I can’t wait to get my hands on more of her work.

WOOT!

Still Lost!

Happy Anniversary to my novella Losing It! The story of Charlotte and Ben was published by Liquid Silver books three years ago. It's hard to believe that much time has gone by. That story made it to the finals of the Eppies that year, but didn't win. I was still thrilled to have finaled, though.

So, to celebrate, I have a giveaway offer good for today only.

One of the main characters, Charlotte, loses her virginity. Was your cherry-losing experience a good one? Comment yea or nay, email me your email address, and I'll give you a free copy of Losing It.

Weekly Wrap-Up #4: Research

This week's wrap-up topic is researching.

Did you do any sort of research in the last week? Yes, my brother and his wife are now writers for Examiner.com in Dallas. I'm interested in doing that for L.A., so I was researching what's involved and what topic I might take up. Since there are already a couple of Food Examiners for Los Angeles, I may try to specialize and be the Coffee Examiner.

Was it for work or play? Work. Apparently you get paid per click on your articles.

Learn anything you’d care to share? Some of the Examiners out there are not publishing articles within their topic. For instance, there were a couple of One Pot Meal Examiners that wrote about dishes that weren't complete meals, which is the whole point of One Pot Meals--that you don't have a bunch of dishes to clean afterward. Also, while researching a local coffee roaster, I cried when I read an account of how his beloved brother passed away from cancer.

Do you have a hunger for knowledge or are you more passive? I love learning stuff. I can easily get carried away for hours researching.

Do you like the learning (aka school?) I loved school. That's probably why I eventually became a teacher. If I had the time and money, I'd so go back to college and get a second degree. I would love to learn how to speak Italian.

Your turn!
Did you do any sort of research in the last week?
Was it for work or play?
Learn anything you’d care to share?
Do you have a hunger for knowledge or are you more passive?
Do you like the learning (aka school?)