Hi, everyone! Welcome to another week of Writerly Wednesday, where I share something writerly with you. Today's blog post is just an update of all the things I've been doing in my writerly ways. :)
Since I am still waiting to hear from my publisher about edits (and anxious to get to the actual edits), I've been occupying my time with editing book 2 of the Spiral Defenders series. I've come to realize that since moving a major scene from that book into book 1 (Into the Spiral), I have a lot of rewriting to do. I also keep coming up with small things to change in Into the Spiral. I'm very excited to jump back into Ronnie and Gavin's world (which is a good thing since I still need to rewrite the prequel short story, a second short story later in the series and the last two books of the series). And I really can't wait to share this story with you!
(Yesterday's Tell Me Something Tuesday post talked about book boyfriends and I did include Gavin as one of my boyfriends. You can check it out for a tiny preview of what's to come.)
hand drawn by Amanda Pfender
In addition to editing, I've been coming up with various merchandise ideas. And I'm very excited to say I have an artist on board. Her name is Amanda Pfender and she is a good family friend who also happens to be a phenomenal artist. She has been working on a cover for Into the Spiral since before it got picked up by Otherworld Publications and now she is helping me with merchandising ideas. I know this may seem a bit premature since I still have a little more than EIGHT MONTHS until my book is released, but I figure I might as well plan these things when I think of them. :) Amanda and I are already coming up with several "one of a kind" prize ideas. ;) Check out Gavin from her cover of Into the Spiral to the left.
And that's what's going on in my writing life lately. :) It's been an exciting week so far and I hope it keeps coming.
Hello, everyone, and welcome to another edition of Writerly Wednesday, a weekly meme I started to talk about anything pertaining to writing, whether it's my journey as a soon-to-be-published author (SQUEEE!), a writing resource I find valuable, or an author or publishing company I find inspiring. :) Today, I want to talk about inspiration.
Inspiration comes from many different places. As an author, I have to keep my eyes and ears open at all times. Some of my most inspired ideas, though, have come while I'm in the shower or when I'm about to fall asleep - those rare times of day when I'm not consumed with keeping a family, a job and a house satisfied.
For my upcoming novel, Into the Spiral, I got the inspiration for Ronnie, the main character, from two simple words: spontaneous combustion. I'd decided I wanted a character who was on the verge of combusting because of everything happening in her life. In the original beginning of the novel, Ronnie was walking down the street, listening to her iPod and trying to drown out the nagging voices of everyone telling her what to do. From there, the idea branched out and Ronnie became a real person. (She was also inspired in personality and looks by my dear friend, Lindsay, who I work with.)
For my Mason Ridge trilogy, the inspiration came from a writing prompt on Writing,com. The prompt was for The Witch's Circle in October of 2008, a month-long supernatural short story contest. The prompt was to have a mix of supernatural characters in one story, including a werewolf, vampire, ghost and a human (I think a troll was included, too, but that never made it to my novel). That November for NaNoWriMo, I wrote Losing Control, the first novel of the Mason Ridge trilogy. The title of that book was also inspired by the song Lose Control by Evanescence (the video I've shared below).
Inspiration can come from anywhere. I always have something with me to take notes in, whether it's pen and paper or the notepad option on my phone. A snippet of overheard conversation can inspire an entire scene or chapter. Seeing a live Big Cats show at the county fair can inspire a novel about a shapeshifting family that travels around the US as a similar show (yes, this is my idea; please don't steal it!). The local news, headlines of major papers, even a magazine article can inspire something written. I've found I'm most inspired by music, others around me, and reading books (which usually leads to tons of research. LOL).
Hi, everybody! Sorry Character Chat is coming so late this week. I've actually had this idea since Monday and meant to write it then, but life (and my own nervousness) got in the way. But without further ado, I give you my chat with Gavin about E.T.
I walk into The Reading Corner and pause as the door
swings shut behind me, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling the smells of coffee
and new books. A sense of calm comes over me as I grin, hitch my purse higher
on my shoulder and head to the café off to the side. I step onto the raised
area that houses the café when dark, slightly slanted eyes meet mine. My date has
beaten me here. Nervous butterflies suddenly take flight in my stomach; I feel
like Ronnie on her first day of school, gawking at the hottie all in black with black hair that just covers his ears and slightly slanted dark brown eyes that make me quiver inside. I created a god when I created that one. Taking another deep breath, I cross to the
small round table and sit down.
“What do you have to be nervous about?” Gavin asks with
a raised eyebrow. I practically swoon on the spot.
“Is it that obvious?” I reply tucking a strand of dark
hair behind my ear. A nervous giggle escapes my throat and I look away, my
cheeks aflame. I look at the counter, see it’s empty and jump to my feet. “I
need a drink,” I say and practically sprint to the counter to order something –
anything to give myself a few minutes to gather my wits. The barista smiles as
she takes my order and I peek back at Gavin as she turns to make it. His gaze
is on the bookstore’s interior, his dark eyes roaming like he’s waiting for
someone. Was he meeting Ronnie later? I don’t know. I take another deep breath and
tell myself I’m being ridiculous. I created this guy! There’s nothing to be
nervous about. But he’s the epitome of tall(ish), dark and handsome. He’s about
5’10” with black hair and dark brown eyes. His smile is heart-melting. He’s
strong, fast and a little snarky. He’s also an alien, from the planet Cira, the
center of the Spiral galaxy my books take place in.
As if on cue, “E.T.” by Katy Perry begins playing
overhead as the barista hands me my drink.
I can’t help but sing along as I return to Gavin’s table.
“You’re so hypnotizing.
Could you be the devil; could you be an angel?”
Gavin raises both eyebrows, a frown marring his
features, and I immediately stop singing.
“Am I that bad?” I joke. The frown stays in place.
“I hate this song,” he declares, his eyes towards the hidden speakers above us. It’s my turn to
frown. I love this song; so much so that I’ve chosen it as the theme song for
my series.
“Why? It’s perfect,” I argue and sip my drink. Hot chocolate
and caramel slide down my throat.
“It’s about aliens,” he points out. I nod.
“Which is what makes it perfect.” I try not to roll my
eyes. “I mean, it’s not like Cira is a place on Earth. You are an alien, you
know.”
“Technically, yes, but I’m also human.” He shakes his
head, obviously frustrated. The movement of his head shows the pointed tips of
his ears.
“Half human,” I correct him. "'Stab me with your laser'; 'inject me with your poison'; a little adult for the theme of our book, don't you think?" I cringe, my cheeks once again red. I clear my throat and take another sip of my drink before I answer his accusation. "Well, yes, there is that, but it's not like the more adult themes of the song are what make me think of you and Ronnie when I write. You're an alien; your touch is foreign to her; you have this charismatic power over her. The song is much more applicable to the second book, but there are elements of it in Into the Spiral." He considers this then nods. "I guess I see your point," he concedes. "'I'm ready for abduction'?" he quotes just after Katy sings it. "Shawn would say you abducted her." "No, Shawn thinks I stole her." "Which you did." "It was never my intention to make her fall for me." I raise my eyebrows, challenging him. "At least not on Earth," he mutters sheepishly, his cheeks slightly pink. “Seriously, though, the song does make me think of you every time I hear it.” I give
my best, cheesiest smile, hoping to make him laugh with my dorkiness. His embarrassed frown
turns into a smirk and I know I’m winning him over.
“I mean, you are my alien,” I add. He chuckles,
relaxing in his chair. His smile widens as he spots something over my shoulder.
“Technically, I’m Ronnie’s alien,” he corrects me just
as Ronnie appears next to him. She grabs a chair from another table and pulls
it over to ours, sitting as close as possible to Gavin without sitting on his
lap.
“What about you being my alien?” she asks after a
quick peck hello. She grins at me and then eyes my drink, which I pass over to
her.
“That song about aliens by Katy Perry,” Gavin tells
her.
“Oh, I love that song; it reminds me of you,” she
exclaims. I laugh and give Gavin a see-I-told-you look.
“Well, the how can I hate it if the two most important
women in my life love it,” Gavin concedes. Ronnie frowns at me, jealousy sparking
in her brown eyes, and pushes my drink back to me.
“He only said that because I’m his creator,” I tell
her. I cringe inside; I hadn't realized she was so easily jealous. I wonder if
that’s going to be a problem as Ronnie suddenly asks Gavin if I told him about
the story I promised to write.
“She said it’s going to be romantic,” Ronnie declared, softening at the thought of another
romantic moment with him. As if they haven’t had enough already. My mind
wanders to everything they’ve already been through only to be cut off by Gavin
clearing his throat. I look up and meet his eyes again. I really have to stop
doing that.
“No, we didn’t get a chance to talk about it yet,” he
tells Ronnie.
“I don’t even know what to do for you two,” I admit. A
slow smile turns up his lips. He glances at Ronnie and reaches for her hand.
She beams at him as their fingers entwine. We both know what that smile means.
“I might have an idea,” he says. Ronnie squeals and throws
her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly on the lips. I take that as my
cue to get out of there and stand with my drink in hand.
“Whenever you’re ready, we’ll get together for that
story,” I tell Gavin and walk away from their table.
For the few of you who might not know the song Gavin and I briefly discussed, I found a video on YouTube. It's just pictures of Katy Perry while the song is played (but it's MUCH better than the Kanye West version)
Thank you for joining me for another fun Character Chat. Hope you enjoy the rest of your Thursday!
